The Boston Red Sox boast a formidable and potent lineup featuring Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman, Jarren Duran, Kristian Campbell, and Wilyer Abreu, all of whom have the potential to power this team deep into the postseason. It’s expected that Triston Casas will eventually start hitting as we know he’s capable of.

Furthermore, two elite prospects, outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer, are waiting for their chance to shine. However, Boston’s ultimate success depends on whether they possess sufficient pitching strength to stay competitive. The focus largely rests on the Red Sox’s starting rotation, which has been plagued by a series of injuries, including shoulder discomfort for Walker Buehler, prompting further tests in Boston on Thursday.

These injuries have overshadowed what could be the team’s Achilles’ heel—a weakness that was glaringly exposed in consecutive games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Twice, the Red Sox starters handed the bullpen a late lead, only for it to be squandered dramatically. On Wednesday, Lucas Giolito’s impressive debut was marred when Garrett Whitlock surrendered a game-tying, three-run homer to Anthony Santander in the seventh inning of an eventual 10-inning loss.

Just a day later, Justin Slaten experienced a similar fate, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing the spoiler. Entering the evening, Boston’s bullpen had an ERA of 4.26, ranking 19th in the league. These numbers undoubtedly worsened by Friday morning. While this lineup can compensate for many shortcomings, it’s challenging to vie for championships without a reliable strategy for securing outs and maintaining leads in the final innings.

The blueprint for success exists: Aroldis Chapman’s left arm remains as powerful as ever, and there is potential in Slaten, Whitlock, and others as dependable late-inning choices. However, this requires a certain level of optimism, and Craig Breslow was aware of the gamble he took by not making a significant investment during the offseason.