The Boston Red Sox halted their three-game losing streak with a 7-3 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday afternoon. This offensive display was exactly what Alex Cora’s squad needed after being outscored 17-12 during their recent skid. Although they’ve temporarily returned to winning ways, the Red Sox still face challenges. Several seasoned players in Boston must elevate their performance to solidify their team as a playoff contender, particularly a certain power hitter who’s facing scrutiny as April wraps up.

Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is under scrutiny following a recent downturn. Few veteran players had as much pressure on them entering the 2025 season as Story. The 32-year-old’s time in Boston has been mostly underwhelming since signing a $140 million deal in March 2022, largely due to injuries restricting him to just 163 games over the last three years.

Fortunately, Story has remained healthy this season, missing only one of the Red Sox’s initial 29 games. This excellent health paid dividends early in the season, with the two-time MLB All-Star posting a .337/.366/.528 slash line, along with five home runs, 15 RBIs, six stolen bases, and three walks in his first 23 appearances (89 at-bats).

Regrettably, the situation has changed drastically since then. Including Saturday’s win, Story has managed only one hit in his last 21 at-bats, resulting in a .048 batting average. During this slump, he’s struck out nine times and walked only twice, contributing to the Red Sox’s recent inconsistency at the plate. Hopefully, Story’s struggles will be short-lived, allowing him to regain his prior productivity.

The Red Sox have a record of 11-7 (61.1%) when the two-time Silver Slugger gets at least one hit this season, compared to a 4-6 (40.0%) record when he goes hitless, underscoring his significance to Boston’s success. If his difficulties continue, the Red Sox might eventually promote top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer to provide some motivation for Story. The Chula Vista, CA native has been performing impressively with Triple-A Worcester, hitting six home runs and driving in 28 runs while slashing .267/.312/.500 over his first 21 games (86 at-bats).

Nonetheless, Story finding his form and becoming a menace at the plate again would greatly enhance his team’s playoff hopes. Currently, the Red Sox are favored with -130 odds (56.5% implied probability) to qualify for the 2025 MLB postseason on FanDuel Sportsbook.