The Boston Red Sox enter their May 20 clash with the New York Mets clinging to the hope of finding sustained traction in a turbulent 2025 season, bringing a 23-25 record into Fenway Park and desperately seeking consistency in all facets of their game. While their offense has shown flashes of being among the league’s most potent—ranking top 10 in both weighted runs created plus (wRC+) and weighted on-base average (wOBA)—defensive miscues, bullpen collapses, and starting rotation instability have undermined their efforts to stay competitive in the American League East. At the heart of their offensive production stands Rafael Devers, who remains the most feared bat in the lineup with his ability to launch balls over the Monster and work deep counts. Trevor Story has also begun to find rhythm after a slow start, driving in runs and anchoring the infield with more consistent defensive work. Outfielder Jarren Duran continues to emerge as a valuable spark plug with his blend of speed, contact, and aggressive baserunning, giving manager Alex Cora more options atop the order. But the Red Sox have not capitalized consistently enough on scoring opportunities, often stranding runners and allowing opposing teams to creep back into games they had early control of. On the mound, Boston hands the ball to Walker Buehler, who is still working back to full form following his return from injury.

Buehler’s stuff remains electric, and his postseason experience gives the Red Sox a dependable presence when he’s commanding the zone, but inconsistency with his fastball location and early inning traffic have limited his efficiency. Against a Mets lineup packed with patient, power-heavy hitters like Pete Alonso and Juan Soto, Buehler must avoid falling behind in counts or leaving pitches over the heart of the plate. The biggest concern for Boston remains its bullpen, which has surrendered multiple leads over the past two weeks and posted one of the higher WHIPs in late-inning situations. Relievers have struggled to consistently throw strikes, and the lack of a lockdown closer has forced Cora to mix and match depending on matchups, which hasn’t always worked in their favor. Fenway Park, however, remains one of their few steady advantages. At 13-11 at home, the Red Sox play with noticeably more energy and often generate more offensive flow in front of a passionate and vocal fan base. If the offense can jump on Clay Holmes early—especially given that he’s transitioning from a bullpen role to a starter’s workload—Boston could tilt the momentum in their favor. But it will require a clean game from the defense, six solid innings from Buehler, and for the bullpen to step up and finish the job. The Red Sox know they’re treading water in a competitive division and need series like this one to turn their season around. With Fenway’s quirks, Buehler’s upside, and the firepower to hang with anyone, Boston is fully capable of rising to the challenge—but only if they can finally synchronize their offense, pitching, and late-game execution.