The Boston Red Sox enter the 2025 MLB season with tempered optimism as they begin their campaign on the road against the Texas Rangers, a team they’ve historically engaged in high-scoring affairs with at Globe Life Field. Boston is coming off a transitional 2024 season where they failed to reach the postseason and finished in the bottom half of the AL East. To reverse that trend, the front office made several bold moves in the offseason to improve their pitching depth and defensive reliability, while also looking to shake up the batting order. Chief among those moves was the acquisition of left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet, who will start on Opening Day. Crochet, obtained via trade from the Chicago White Sox, was one of the league’s most electric arms during the first half of the 2024 season, earning an All-Star nod with a 2.67 ERA before tiring down the stretch. He finished the year with a 3.58 ERA and an impressive 209 strikeouts over 146 innings, showcasing both strikeout stuff and improved command. With Boston entering the season without key rotation members Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring), and Kutter Crawford (knee), the Red Sox will rely heavily on Crochet to stabilize the starting pitching until reinforcements return. Offensively, the Red Sox made headlines with the free-agent signing of third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal.

Bregman, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion, brings leadership, power, and Gold Glove-caliber defense to the infield. In a surprising decision, manager Alex Cora announced that Bregman will start at third base while Rafael Devers will move to designated hitter, a shift aimed at improving defensive efficiency. Devers has been a consistent offensive force, but his struggles in the field prompted the change. The rest of the lineup is anchored by a mix of power and versatility, including outfielder Jarren Duran, whose breakout 2024 saw him hit .295 with 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases. Trevor Story is expected to rebound after a disappointing season, and catcher Connor Wong continues to develop into a reliable game-caller and bat behind the plate. Despite inconsistencies last season, Boston finished with a 51.3% win rate as moneyline favorites and showed strong road offense, particularly in Texas, where the total has gone OVER in five consecutive games at Globe Life Field. The team’s bullpen, a weakness in 2024, was reinforced with the addition of veteran lefty Matt Moore and flamethrower Kenley Jansen returning to the closer role. Setup duties will be handled by Chris Martin, who posted a 1.05 ERA in 2024 and was one of the most effective relievers in baseball. The Red Sox are looking to re-establish their identity as a hard-nosed, grind-it-out team that plays aggressive on the bases and hits for contact across the lineup. Cora, now in his sixth full season as manager, has emphasized more situational hitting, run manufacturing, and defensive execution during spring training. With a restructured infield, an ace-in-the-making on the mound, and a retooled bullpen, the Red Sox believe they can compete from the start — and nothing would validate that belief more than knocking off the Rangers on Opening Day.