Red Sox ‘uniquely qualified’ to beat Dodgers in October

A busy offseason has the 2025 Red Sox well-positioned to punch their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

But does Boston have the mettle and talent already in place to make a legitimate push for a World Series title this fall?

ESPN’s Buster Olney believes that this Red Sox roster could do more than just make some noise in October. 

In an ESPN piece gauging which MLB teams could potentially prevent the Dodgers from repeating as World Series champions, Olney believes Boston could give Los Angeles fits if the Red Sox realize their potential this summer.

“In the end, however, an AL team will have a seven-game series to take down the Dodgers, and we submit that the revamped Boston Red Sox are uniquely qualified to get this done,” Olney wrote. “The Yankees’ injuries have pulled them back to the pack of teams in their league, and it’s the Red Sox who will take down the AL East and then the AL pennant.”

For Olney, the Red Sox’ offseason upgrades to their starting rotation could allow them to keep pace with the Dodgers, who boast arguably the best rotation in the big leagues between Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Shohei Ohtani (when cleared to pitch in a few months). 

“In Game 1 of a World Series against the Dodgers, the Red Sox could lean on Garrett Crochet, a power left-hander, against a Dodgers lineup that might be most vulnerable against power lefties,” Olney wrote. “And in Game 2, they’d have former Dodger Walker Buehler, who would relish the opportunity to take down his old teammates. Who would feel confident betting against Buehler in those circumstances? 

“The Red Sox have an outstanding lineup, headed by Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman,” Olney added, “and Devers and Bregman have the kind of postseason experience to lead this group through the biggest games of the year.”

While Olney acknowledged that the Red Sox will need to address potential weaknesses in their bullpen, he added that Boston’s influx of young talent in Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer could both provide a much-needed boost — or even be leveraged at the trade deadline in order to further bolster this roster. 

Fellow ESPN insider Jeff Passan agreed that the Red Sox have a potential path through the American League following an injury-riddled spring for the Yankees. But he added that the Red Sox’ roster still pales in comparison to the star power present in Los Angeles’ clubhouse. 

“Because the AL playoff picture is so wide open, the path to the World Series is not nearly as treacherous for the Red Sox. Should they arrive, though, the difference between the teams — at least as they’re currently constituted — is more canyon than gap,” Passan wrote.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.