With Opening Day just a few weeks away, fans around the country are clamoring to see how their teams will do this upcoming season.

The American League East saw three teams get into the playoffs in 2022, with the New York Yankees making the ALCS. With the division expected to be a gauntlet again this year, let’s take a look at how the Boston Red Sox stack up for the 2023 season.

Check out MyBookie’s Red Sox betting odds and predictions for 2023 MLB Season.

Boston Red Sox: 2023 Season Prediction

Current Odds

The Red Sox currently have the fourth-best odds of winning the AL East at +2000, only ahead of the Baltimore Orioles at +2500. Given the other three teams (Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays) are all +300 or better, the Red Sox are still seen as longshots. 

In other odds, the Red Sox are +3000 to win the American League, and they are +6000 to win the World Series in 2023.

Pitching Staff

This will be an interesting season for the Red Sox on the mound as they are hoping for a lot of good luck in terms of health. Chris Sale (34 on Opening Day), Corey Kluber (37 by mid-April), and James Paxton (34) are the top-three starters. Combined, they haven’t even thrown 350 combined innings since 2019, and that is keeping in mind Kluber threw 164 last year for the Rays.

In fact, Paxton is already on the mend after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in a spring training outing, meaning he is likely unavailable for Opening Day. With Bryan Bello (forearm) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) also likely to start the season on the injured list, that leaves Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford to round out the top five with Sale and Kluber.

Offense

Without a doubt, seeing Xander Bogaerts leave in free agency was a blow for the Red Sox organization and their fans. He and Rafael Devers created a one-two punch on the left side of the infield that was amongst the best in the majors. 

Now, Devers is left to be the staple in the offense by himself. Last year, the 26-year-old slugging first baseman hit .295/.358/.521 with 27 home runs, 88 runs batted in, and 84 runs scored. Devers will likely be on a shortlist again this year to compete for the AL MVP.

The question is whether he will have any protection in the lineup. The biggest offseason acquisition for the Red Sox was slugging Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to life in MLB, but he certainly has the tools to help the offense.

Boston also brought in third baseman Justin Turner, but his tenure with the Red Sox got off to an auspicious start as he had to leave a spring training game due to getting hit in the face with a pitch. Luckily, tests have come back negative for both fractures and a concussion, meaning that he will hopefully be able to return to the diamond sooner than later.

Trevor Story, who was expected to take over shortstop, is also out as he is recovering from elbow surgery.

Aside from those four, the Red Sox are hoping to get solid play from rookie first baseman Triston Casas, outfielders Alex Verdugo and Adam Duvall, and Bogaerts’ replacement at shortstop, Enrique Hernandez. Of note, Casas currently has the fifth-best odds of winning AL Rookie of the Year at +900.

Prediction

While Rafael Devers is still worth the price of admission, it is hard to see the Red Sox competing this year in a loaded AL East. They are relying too much on aging veterans on the mound, and the offense will have a hard time protecting Devers in the lineup.

With Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, and John Schreiber in the bullpen, leads should be well-protected. The question is whether they will have a lead to hold. Boston will hope to stay out of the AL East cellar this season, but with an up-and-coming Orioles squad, even that may be a challenge.

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Red Sox Offseason Transactions

• Agreed to terms with INF/OF Daniel Palka on a minor league contract
• Named Brad Pearson vice president, sports medicine & performance
  Paul Tobani vice president, amateur scouting and player development
  Brandon Henry head athletic trainer
  Andrew Mack director, baseball strategy/personnel
  Alberto Mejia director, Latin American operations
  Devin Pearson director, amateur scouting
  Alex Gimenez manager, operations and professional scouting
  May Peckham operations learning & development manager
  David Herrera assistant athletic trainer
  Anna Clemson assistant, major league operations
  Matt Sauers assistant, baseball operations
• Agreed to terms with RHP Jake Faria on a minor league contract
• Acquired RHP Theo Denlinger from Chicago White Sox for RHP Franklin German

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2023 MLB Season
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