The Boston Red Sox are going to win the 2026 World Series. That’s right—the whole shebang, the Fall Classic, the big one, the World Series. Vegas, if you’re into that kind of thing, has the odds at about 14-1. Vegas is famously wrong, however, and I’m here to tell you that the odds are 100%.
Why? Because there’s no other reason why! The Celtics Red Sox are the balls!
Except there are other reasons why. Allow me to state my case.
Postseason baseball is a different animal than the regular season. In the regular season,
you’re playing for tomorrow as well as today. In the postseason, you pull out all the stops to win today. As such, you see the other team’s best pitchers and runs are hard to come by. It’s hard to string together five hits in a row in the playoffs. To oversimplify things, it’s about pitching and the home run ball.
We’ll start with the rotation. It’s one of the best in baseball. Last year, the Red Sox limped into the postseason with a skeleton crew pitching staff. Garrett Crochet started the first game, while an ice-cold Brayan Bello and a new-to-the-league Connelly Early started games two and three. This season, Crochet will be in a bullpen role if he’s available at all, but Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle, and Ranger Suarez enter the postseason with a combined 1.60 ERA in September. The rotation has been excellent all season, and they’re heading into the postseason rested and red hot. Crochet’s absence from the rotation is a loss, but the group has been a rock all season.
Beyond the rotation, the team can shorten games with its bullpen. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman are two of the best relievers in baseball. Tyron Guerrero has been elite in spurts and looks refreshed after a stint on the injured list. And Erik Miller? Don’t tell Dan, but they’re going to need to use him. When he’s in the zone, his stuff is as good as anyone. If that isn’t enough, Crochet is looming for a potential inning or two, should he make the roster. That’s five pitchers with back-of-the-bullpen stuff. With off-days built into the schedule, Chad Tracy will be able to be more aggressive with his pen than in the regular season. All five four can’t pitch every game, but if the starter can give you five solid innings, Tracy will be able to mix and match to give opponents a really difficult time at the end of games.
Defensively, they’re among the best teams in baseball. The outfield, by defensive runs saved, is one of the best of all-time. The infield has shaky spots, but Caleb Durbin, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and Nick Sogard are all excellent, as is Willson Contreras if he’s available. Behind the plate, Adley Rutschman is the best defensive catcher they’ve had in some time and can control the running game.
If you’re still reading, you’re probably wondering how I’m going to spin the offense. It has been questionable over the last month or so to say the least. Playoff games can come down to one or two swings, though, and the Red Sox have players who can take those swings. Roman Anthony is one of them. Wilyer Abreu is another. Ceddanne Rafaela, Trevor Story, and Jarren Duran are all liable to run into a ball now and then, even if it seems like pure luck. Listen, I’m not high on the offense either, especially with a banged-up Willson Contreras and without Mickey Gasper. But Chris Taylor, Alcides Escobar, and Marco Scutaro have won playoff series MVPs. Anyone can get hot and carry a team in October.
As I mentioned, it hasn’t exactly looked good in September. If you still think they suck, I don’t blame you. They might suck! Fortunately, so does everybody else.
Seriously, look around the American League. Everyone stinks! The Rays are the class of the league, but they lack home run power throughout the lineup. The Yankees are formidable, but Aaron Judge is a question mark and they have issues in the outfield. The Guardians, White Sox, and whoever wins the West have about four players combined that people have even heard of. Sure, the National League has good teams, but once you get to the World Series, anything can happen.
And let’s not forget about the power of Fenway Park. If you’ve never been to a postseason game at America’s Most Beloved ballpark, I strongly encourage you to do whatever it takes to get there. I went to 2018 World Series Game 1, and the “Kerrrr-Shaw” chants have remained with me ever since. The 2021 Wild Card game against the Yankees is still the loudest I’ve ever heard a ballpark. They’re 24-12 at home since the All-Star break. Red Sox fans are clamoring for playoff baseball at Fenway. If they can beat the Yankees and get back to Fenway, that first game is going to be a frenzy.
We’ve seen this team go on a run before. They’re capable of doing it again. When they get punched, there’s a counterpunch. When they need a big start, they get that big start. You don’t fire your manager in April and come all the way back just to bow out early in the playoffs. The Red Sox have had a magical run, and it’s going to continue. The Boston Red Sox are going to win the 2026 World Series. Enjoy the ride.
