Insider: Red Sox Can Win World Series With Roman Anthony Injury
How far can the Red Sox go without Anthony?
ESPN’s David Schoenfield predicted on Sept. 2 that the Boston Red Sox would win the AL East.
Later that day, star rookie outfielder Roman Anthony suffered an oblique injury and was subsequently placed on the injured list. Anthony is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Despite the loss, Schoenfield wrote on Monday that the situation doesn’t necessarily eliminate Boston from World Series contention.
“It’s a huge blow, especially given his hot bat of late, but the record with Anthony in the lineup coincides with better performances up and down the roster since the beginning of July — especially from the work of Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello in the rotation to help back up ace Garrett Crochet,” the insider said. “The Red Sox also have the best closer in the game in 2025 in Aroldis Chapman, who has a ridiculous .346 OPS allowed and 0.98 ERA; a red-hot setup reliever in Garrett Whitlock (a 1.47 ERA and no home runs since mid-May); and enough depth to fill in for Anthony, especially if they can get Wilyer Abreu back before the end of the regular season. It won’t be easy without Anthony, but it could be a similar scenario to the Braves losing Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2021 and still winning the World Series.”
The Red Sox weren’t included among Schoenfield’s seven World Series favorites on Monday but were one of the seven “potential spoilers.”
With both Anthony and Wilyer Abreu on the IL, Boston’s starting outfield now consists of 2024 All-Star Jarren Duran, Gold Glove candidate Ceddanne Rafaela and some combination of Nate Eaton and Rob Refsnyder.
The Red Sox badly need Abreu back, as he gives the defense another Gold Glove caliber player and the offense an additional power bat.
The 26-year-old won the defensive hardware in 2024 and despite his ongoing absence, still ranks second on the team in home runs (22) and third in RBIs (69).
Boston begins a three-game road series against the Athletics on Monday before opening a massive three-game home set vs. the New York Yankees on Friday.
