Alex Bregman Hopes Red Sox Teammate Has Snapped Out Of Slump

The Boston Red Sox can use a strong stretch from one of their streakiest players.

Ceddanne Rafaela caught fire before the All-Star break, but he’s spent the summer mired in a prolonged funk. Alex Bregman thinks his talented teammate is finally turning the corner amid a five-game hitting streak.

Bregman said before Thursday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, per the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey, that Rafaela’s current form reminds him of the hitter who wreaked havoc in June and July.

“He actually looks, right now, very similar. He looks very good,” Bregman said. “Hopefully he can do that again for the next month.”

Rafaela batted .331/.362/.662 with 12 home runs in his last 40 games before the All-Star break, trailing only American League MVP candidate Cal Raleigh with 2.6 fWAR. Onlookers hoped they were witnessing a breakout from the 25-year-old, but he’s since fallen hard to earth.

Rafaela is batting .209/.260/.298 since the All-Star break, hitting just two home runs in 231 plate appearances. Those struggles coincided with the center fielder taking more reps at second base, where he has a minuscule .309 OPS.

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However, Rafaela has recently delivered some light at the end of the tunnel. He’s 9-for-19 with two walks and three doubles over his last five games, all while starting in center field.

Rafaela climbed up the lineup card to No. 6 for back-to-back wins over the Toronto Blue Jays, and he’ll stay there as the Red Sox look to complete a sweep and clinch a playoff berth on Thursday.