The Boston Red Sox are finding ways to get runners into scoring position, but capitalizing on those chances has been a different story. This struggle is a key factor in their 1-3 start, with a minus-six run differential raising eyebrows early in the season.
A striking stat making the rounds is that the Red Sox are hitting just 2-for-58 with runners in scoring position, coupled with 32 strikeouts. This performance marks the lowest batting average with RISP in the first four games of a season since 1962, when the stat began being tracked.
After an offseason focused on improving run prevention, Boston managed only 10 runs in their first three games. But as FanSided's Katie Manganelli pointed out, keeping opponents from scoring won't matter much if the Red Sox can't put runs on the board themselves.
It's a perplexing situation for a team with postseason aspirations in the fiercely competitive AL East. Trevor Story's four strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday highlight the broader offensive woes. Additionally, the early returns from the Wilson Contreras trade are less than promising, with the first baseman managing just one hit in 18 at-bats, though he has drawn four walks.
Currently, the Red Sox's team OPS sits at .666, ranking them 18th in the Majors. This is a stark contrast to the San Francisco Giants' impressive .441. If Boston wants to avoid slipping in the standings by the end of April, they'll need to boost their offensive output significantly.