Red Sox Week in Review: Ready for October

Weekly Snapshot

Record Last Week: 4-2 (Overall 89-73)

Runs Scored Last Week: 21

Runs Surrendered Last Week: 16

Scores

Game 157 (9/23) | BOS 4, TOR 1

Game 158 (9/24) | BOS 7, TOR 1

Game 159 (9/25) | BOS 1, TOR 6

Game 160 (9/26) | DET, 3, BOS 4

Game 161 (9/27) | DET 2, BOS 1

Game 162 (9/28) | DET 3, BOS 4

Transactions

9/21/25: DFA’d Ali Sánchez

9/23/25: Activated Wilyer Abreu (right calf strain) from the 10-day IL

9/23/25: Outrighted Ali Sánchez to Triple-A Worcester

9/28/25: Activated José De León

TL;DR Breakdown/Highlights

Blue Jays series: In Game 1, Lucas Giolito took the mound and yielded one run across 4.2 innings. The bullpen (Wilson, Whitlock, Slaten, and Chapman) tossed 4.1 scoreless innings. Nathaniel Lowe (+25.8% WPA) led the Red Sox’s offense and drove in two runs. Carlos Narváez hit a two-run RBI double in the sixth inning to cement the team’s lead. 

Tuesday night, Garrett Crochet had a clean outing. He threw eight scoreless innings and recorded six strikeouts. On the other hand, Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays starter, was taken out of the game after yielding four earned runs through five innings. Masataka Yoshida and Carlos Narváez hit home runs.

In Game 3, things went awry for the Red Sox. In the bottom of the sixth, a Trevor Story error catapulted the Blue Jays’ offense, leading them to score six runs. At the top of the seventh, Story hit an RBI single to score Jarren Duran from second base; the Red Sox’s sole run of the game.

Tigers series: Friday night felt like a playoff game. The Red Sox started the game on the verge of clinching a postseason berth. Despite recording six strikeouts in three innings (albeit with three earned runs), Red Sox starter Kyle Harrison was pulled early. Alex Cora turned to the Red Sox’s bullpen. Justin Slaten, Steven Matz, Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman came through and prevented the Tigers from scoring again. Masataka Yoshida, the team’s hottest hitter, drove in the first run of the game. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a walk-off triple.  

After Friday night’s celebrations, Alex Cora rested some of the team’s starters. Red Sox starter Connelly Early recorded seven strikeouts and two earned runs through five innings. The Tigers' pitchers held the Red Sox’s offense to one run. With the win, Detroit punched its way into the playoffs.

In the final game of the regular season, Masataka Yoshida got to work quickly and demolished a 384-ft home run (HR: 30/30 parks). José De León, who was called up to provide the bullpen with some rest, racked up eight strikeouts through 6.2 innings. He yielded three earned runs, but the Red Sox’s offense (Jarren Duran: 2B, one RBI, David Hamilton: one HR, two RBIs) outscored the Tigers. 

ICMYI: After Friday night’s win, the Red Sox clinched a playoff berth. Starting Tuesday, they’ll play Yankees in New York over a three-game Wild Card series. It’s great to see the Red Sox play baseball in the fall again. Be sure to follow Talk Sox’s Red Sox coverage throughout the postseason!

Random Stats

• For the 2025 season, the Red Sox have the best bullpen in the AL (6.8 fWAR). Last year, their bullpen ranked 17th (3.5 fWAR). Meanwhile, the Yankees bullpen (2.0 fWAR) grades at 22nd in the majors. 
• Carlos Narváez has posted a 172 wRC+ vs the Yankees, the highest among Red Sox hitters from 2024 to 2025. 
• Alex Bregman was one of the team’s least productive hitters in September (2.16 BA, 640 OPS, 76 wRC+). 
• Since 2004, the Red Sox have an 8-4 record against the Yankees in the postseason.

Website Highlights

Boston Red Sox Minor League Hitters of the Year (2025) by Nick John

Masataka Yoshida’s Rocky 2025 Has Taken A Pleasant Turn by Nick John

Five Red Sox Prospects Who Underperformed Expectations in 2025 by Billy Mock

Garrett Corchet Suddenly Looks Mortal. Is Time Away from Fenway the Cure-All? by Brandon Glick

Wilyer Abreu is the Red Sox’s Offensive Wild Card Heading into October by Alex Mayes

Looking Ahead

September 30th: Red Sox @ Yankees - 6:08 pm EDT

October 1st: Red Sox @ Yankees - 6:08 pm EDT

*October 2nd: Red Sox @ Yankees - 6:08 pm EDT

*If necessary