Red Sox Doomers Need to Lighten Up After Boston's 1-5 Start

A lot has gone wrong for the Boston Red Sox in the week since the regular season began, and it's understandable that people aren't happy.

Rocking a five-game losing streak as they enter the home opener on Friday, the Red Sox are tied with the Athletics and Chicago White Sox for the worst record in Major League Baseball at 1-5. Those teams have bottom-of-the-barrel payrolls, while the Red Sox have pledged to be championship contenders.

It's never any fun to lose, and a bad first impression can certainly be a lasting one. But it's time for a large portion of the fan base to take a deep breath and stop the doom and gloom attitude.

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Red Sox's season has a long, long way to go

roman anthony — Apr 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox pinch hitter Roman Anthony (19) crosses home plate after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Six games out of 162 down means the Red Sox still have 96.3% of their season to play. Boston started 1-4 last year, then immediately ripped off a five-game winning streak. That's no guarantee it happens again starting on Friday against the San Diego Padres, but at some point this season, it will come about.

Keep in mind that the Red Sox were 43-45 heading into their Fourth of July series last year. They could play .500 ball for the next two months and still have plenty of time to turn around this "bad start" with a good week or two. Patience is a virtue, friends.

How Boston can turn things around

You want solutions? How about simply assuming that newcomers Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin, who are a combined 3-for-38 so far, will revert to being the above-average and average hitters they were last season, respectively?

The Red Sox only have two position players with more than 10 plate appearances with above-average OPS+ figures. One is Wilyer Abreu, who's sporting a cool 284 figure, and the other is Roman Anthony, who's barely above average at 102.

This vaunted starting rotation has gotten pummeled 1.2 trips through its cycle, and that's going to change as well. Give Ranger Suárez and Sonny Gray more than one bad start, especially in places with their own unique ghosts for each of those hurlers, before passing too harsh a judgment.

Bottom line: Yes, that was a horrific week of baseball for the Sox. But the doomer attitude is magnified by 100 because it was the first week, and the praise probably won't be as loud when they have a good week sometime relatively soon.