BOSTON — The Red Sox and Dodgers brought star-studded teams into a highly-anticipated showdown in the 2018 World Series.
The Red Sox won the battle in five games while the Dodgers won two titles in the years since then. The teams are separated by just five wins this season as they began a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday.
The Dodgers remain true championship contenders in their quest to repeat while the Red Sox have more to overcome if they are truly headed toward their first playoff appearance since 2021.
The clubs can each help their cause next week at the MLB trade deadline. If the teams are destined to meet in October again, what do the Red Sox and Dodgers need down the stretch?
Dodgers: Pitching Health
Los Angeles battled injuries in the rotation and the bullpen last year when the team still managed to win it all. This time around, the Dodgers already have more than 10 arms on the injured list.
Arguably the most talented team in baseball doesn’t need a crazy deadline move for an October push. The Dodgers just need healthy pitchers.
“The injuries are the injuries,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “We still think that we have enough talent right now for us to be better in the bullpen.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora concurred.
“They’re very talented,” Cora said. “They’ve got the best athlete in the universe playing for them. One of the best baseball players in the league (Mookie Betts) is not having a great season and still contributes. The first baseman is a Hall of Famer (Freddie Freeman).”
Red Sox: Starting Pitcher/First Base
The Red Sox have solid starting pitching with an ace in Garrett Crochet and improved seasons from Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito. Boston could still use another frontline starter to pair at the top and open up its platoon players by finally finding a full-time first baseman on the trade market after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury in May.
Cora certainly understands this process as the deadline approaches and what Boston is capable of if chief baseball officer Craig Breslow can add reinforcements.
“Every year is different,” Cora said. “You look around and everybody’s in the same boat, the National League and the American League. Whoever is making decisions in charge of baseball operations, that’s their job. It’s not easy because of the extra wild card and all that. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Roberts, a former Red Sox player, understands the pressure that comes with playing for the franchise.
“From afar, certainly high expectations always here in Boston,” Roberts said. “The (Rafael) Devers trade was a big deal. There’s a lot of young players, talented players that are getting opportunities. They got on a heater for a little bit.”
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