The Boston Red Sox are navigating a rocky start to their season. After a promising win on opening day, they've hit a rough patch, dropping five straight games, including a sweep by the Houston Astros.
In the series finale on Wednesday, the Red Sox took an early 1-0 lead but ultimately fell 6-4. With an off day on Thursday, they’re gearing up for their home opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday, carrying a 1-5 record and sitting at the bottom of the American League East.
But let’s not hit the panic button just yet. The baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint, with 156 games still on the horizon. Manager Alex Cora is keeping things in perspective, focusing on the immediate challenges.
"Don't look at the whole picture," Cora advised. "That's the way you come out of stuff like this, win series.
We've got the Padres, we've got the Brewers. Win those two series at home, and then go on the road and do the same thing."
With 25 games left in April, Cora has set a clear target. "It's April 1st, it's the first game of April. Win 17 games this month and you're going to be okay," he stated.
The Red Sox are counting on Sonny Gray to take the mound against the Padres, hoping he can rebound from a tough debut. Meanwhile, San Diego's offense has been sluggish, managing just 19 runs over their first six games. This matchup could be the perfect opportunity for Boston to turn things around and find their rhythm.