In reality, Rafael Devers is among the least of the Boston Red Sox’s worries.
Devers’ reticence – or flat-out refusal – to move to first base after he agreed to a shift to designated hitter created plenty of headlines and prompted owner John Henry to fly to Kansas City and talk it out with his $313.5 million slugger.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Henry didn’t pack any pitching reinforcements on the plane.
Since that summit, Devers has been nearly unstoppable – with 15 hits in 34 at-bats, three homers and 13 RBIs in nine games. But the Red Sox are slowly slipping from shouting distance of the first-place New York Yankees, with 11 losses in their past 17 games to fall six spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
It might have been 12 losses in 17 games if not for Devers, who saved them with his first career walk-off homer against Atlanta on Saturday.
A few hours later in the series finale, he erased an early deficit 3-0 with a grand slam. But the Red Sox gave up that lead and more, as they’ve done often lately. In losing five of its last six, Boston has twice given up 10 runs in a game and 14 in another. Their rotation ERA now languishes at 4.28, 22nd in the majors.
And nowadays, that means it doesn’t much matter how many runs the Red Sox score.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Feeling the change of the guard: Stalwarts Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes cut as Dalton Rushing steps on the scene.
2. Detroit Tigers (+2)
- Tigers win Jackson Jobe’s first eight starts, setting franchise record.
3. New York Mets (-1)
- Edwin Diaz, now 10-for-10 in save chances, ramps his fastball back up to 99 mph.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (+5)
- At least Jose Alvarado’s PED suspension came well before the trade deadline.
5. San Diego Padres (-2)
- Almost mathematically eliminated in the Vedder Cup.
6. San Francisco Giants (-)
- Wilmer Flores, RBI machine, wins epic battle against Mason Miller for walk-off walk.
7. Chicago Cubs (-1)
- PCA vs. the White Sox was no match: 8-for-14, nine RBIs, four extra-base hits.
8. New York Yankees (-1)
- Jonathan Loaisiga’s return a nice boost for bullpen.
9. Seattle Mariners (-)
- There’s a new ace in town and his name is Bryan Woo.
10. Cleveland Guardians (-)
- Shane Bieber getting closer to a rehab assignment.
11. Minnesota Twins (+7)
- You win 13 in a row, you jump 14 spots in the standings. Them’s the rules.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- Started the year 1-10 on the road; just finished 7-2 road trip.
13. Kansas City Royals (-2)
- Those heavy footsteps you hear? Jac Caglianone is one step from the big leagues.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)
- Will be more than halfway done with Dodgers after three-game road set this week.
15. Houston Astros (-1)
- Thirteen come-from-behind wins.
16. Texas Rangers (+3)
- Evan Carter’s injury woes continue with quad strain.
17. Cincinnati Reds (+3)
- Is Will Benson happening? He slams five homers in four games.
18. Atlanta Braves (+3)
- They climb over .500, just in time to welcome back Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr.
19. Boston Red Sox (-6)
- Kristian Campbell sliding to first to create room for Marcelo Mayer would be a helluva fix.
20. Toronto Blue Jays (-4)
- Tigers show how far they have to go to be playoff team
21. Milwaukee Brewers (-4)
- Jackson Chourio dropped to sixth in order, promptly strikes out four times.
22. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
- Chandler Simpson survives unsettling slide at home plate.
23. Athletics (-)
- Yolo County vs. San Francisco doesn’t quite have the same ring.
24. Washington Nationals (-)
- Michael Soroka wins first game since July 2023.
25. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
- First three-game sweep over Dodgers since 2010.
26. Baltimore Orioles (-1)
- 15-30 record matches 2019 start, when they lost 108 games.
27. Miami Marlins (-)
- Sandy Alcantara drops his sixth straight decision, a career high.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)
- Shut out in eight of their 32 losses.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
- .University of Tampa product Jordan Leasure racking up 12.9 strikeouts per nine.
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
- 8-38, a pace that would knock the White Sox out of the record books.
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