A casual fan's guide to the 2026 Red Sox season
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Roman Anthony starred for Team USA. Boston fans hope he's just as good for this year's Sox. Photo: Gene Wang/Capture At Media/Getty Images
The Red Sox kick off their 2026 season Thursday with an emerging superstar and strong pitching they hope will lead to title contention.
Why it matters: The Sox have finished third in the AL East two years in a row, and the division again looks to be one of the best in baseball.
- Outdueling the Yankees and American League champion Blue Jays will require big contributions from Boston's offseason acquisitions.
⚾️ The Sox start their season on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. You can watch Thursday's game at 4:10pm on NESN.
- For those who've been in baseball hibernation since last season's early playoff exit, here's a rundown of what to expect:
🌟 All eyes on Anthony
Roman Anthony, the Sox' young phenom in right field, is almost certainly the team's most important player at just 21 years old.
- Anthony was excellent last season before an injury shut him down in September. But he looked healthy at the World Baseball Classic, smashing a go-ahead home run for the U.S. in the semifinals.
- He's got MVP potential. Anything less than an All-Star season would be a disappointment.
💨 Throwing heat
Garrett Crochet, Boston's ace pitcher, was runner-up for the Cy Young award last season. A repeat would be asking a lot, but fans can hope.
- The pitching rotation got an influx of talent this offseason in veteran starters Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Johan Oviedo.
😬 Friction points
Anthony could hit 40 home runs this year. The problem: He might need to.
- Boston prioritized adding starting pitching over big bats this offseason, resulting in a lineup that lacks power.
- Also shaky: The bullpen behind closer Aroldis Chapman.
🛍️ Get that swag
Check out this calendar to find out when you can land a free scarf, bobblehead or jersey, as well as dates when kids can run the bases.
🔮 Prediction time
Longtime baseball writer Keith Law, in his season preview for The Athletic, forecast an 87-75 record for the Sox ... and another third-place finish.
- Yes, but: "There's still a lot of upside across this roster," Law writes, adding that the team could top 90 wins "in many scenarios."