KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On the field at least, the Red Sox did not seem like a team impacted at all by the Rafael Devers melodrama over the last two days.
Thursday was a bad day for the organization as Devers shared, for the first time publicly at least, that he was unwilling to play first base, then didn’t pull many punches when discussing chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Friday brought the trio of John Henry, Sam Kennedy and Breslow making an impromptu trip to Kansas City — an idea Red Sox officials insist was Henry’s — for a sit-down with Devers characterized by Breslow as being more about being a “good teammate” than anything else. Oh, and there was a crushing extra-inning loss that dropped the Red Sox to 4-10 in one-run games, too.
But this is a team that showed us something over the past two days, holding a scorching Royals team to two runs and winning back-to-back well-played games over a team that, as of Saturday morning, had won seven in a row (and 10 of 11) and was 16-5 at home.
“I think it shows what we’re made of, what we’re capable of,” said starter Lucas Giolito after a gem Sunday. “(The media) has been saying it, the expectations are high for this club. Lot of talent here. For us to silence out all that outside noise, put in the work and have a good series, it’s a good one.”
Any Devers anger was taken out on the baseball for three straight days. He was 7-for-12 (.583) with six RBIs, two walks, a double, a homer, a .643 on-base percentage and 1.560 OPS. His four hits propelled the Sox to victory Saturday. His two-run, mammoth blast Sunday was the difference. It’s an unrealistic expectation to pin one win or one loss on one member of the lineup. But Devers truly won back-to-back games for the Red Sox, and the fact they were started by reigning All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo made it all the more impressive.
“Just another day,” opined manager Alex Cora. “He’s swinging the bat well. He’s in a good spot. Seeing the ball well, executing his gameplan, which is very important. That ball was demolished.
“He’s very comfortable. Keeps growing and learning about (being the DH). Strength and conditioning, the trainers and the hitting group, they’ve done an amazing job supporting him. If you look at the numbers right now, he’s probably the best DH in the American League right now.”
There’s no doubt the “will he, won’t he?” question about Devers’ positional future is going to continue being asked. If the Red Sox really have championship designs, they won’t keep trotting out Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro at first base, especially when they get a bit healthier. For now, though, it’s being put on the back-burner, with Cora only vowing that “conversations will continue.”
Devers, adamantly and sometimes quite colorfully, showed no interest in weighing on the Henry meeting over the weekend. In fact, if his vow of silence continues any longer, the Conclave might re-convene and throw Devers’ name into the race against Pope Leo XIV. But it’s clear, through his in-passing comments Sunday, that he’s not pleased about the discourse around his name these days. There’s a chance he’ll talk about it in Detroit.
In Kansas City, though, he let his bat talk.
“That’s Raffy Devers,” Giolito said. “I’m glad he’s on my team and I don’t have to pitch to him anymore. He’s an incredible hitter. We’re very lucky to have him.”
Devers wasn’t the only Red Sox standout at Kauffman Stadium. Wilyer Abreu, who has had a streaky start to the season, had a big homer Sunday. Trevor Story had his first extra-base hit in weeks when he hit a three-run shot Saturday. Ceddanne Rafaela had a great defensive series, tracking down every ball in an expansive center field. And the pitching staff stepped up in a big way.
Hunter Dobbins, Garrett Crochet and Giolito each turned in solid starts. The bullpen, tasked heavily in Friday’s marathon, did its job, too, issuing a course correction after a poor week or so. In fact, the Sox accomplished something they haven’t in a while over the last few days. They allowed just four runs over four games (39 innings). It’s the first time they have held opponents to four or fewer runs in a four-game span since June 2022.
“We’ve been playing well if you go back to Cleveland and Toronto,” Cora said. “We’ve been in games. The bullpen did an amazing job in this one. The pitching staff, as a whole, they were amazing.”
In the clubhouse in Kansas City, the Red Sox seemed a little chipper than usual. Players weren’t afraid to speak their minds to reporters, media relations officials, or whoever else was listening. Some players privately said they side with Devers and think the Red Sox are wrong for stringing him along. Others might be side-eying his unwillingness to play first.
Between the lines, though, for a team whose lows have been lower than its highs have been high, it was an impressive 48 hours. Now, a challenge awaits at another AL Central destination with Tarik Skubal and the American League-leading Tigers (26-15) awaiting for three key games at Comerica Park.
“Now, we’ve got to turn the page and be ready for Detroit,” said Cora. “Right now, the best team in the American League. It’s going to be a challenge.”
