Red Sox Stand Pat in Latest Power Rankings

The Boston Red Sox (61-55) enters the week coming off of being swept over the weekend by the Houston Astros (62-55). Despite the sweep, they have remained in the top three in MLB in team OPS for the season, and since the All-Star Break. It has been the pitching that has let them down in the second half.

MLB.com released their latest power rankings on Monday, the first installment since August 1st. While there was movement up and down the rankings, the Red Sox remained put in 14th. Here is what Will Leitch had to say about Boston:

"The Red Sox have been buoyed by their surprising rotation most of this year, but it’s starting to collapse on them. Heading into Sunday, since the All-Star break, the Red Sox had surrendered 44 home runs, 10 more than any other team since the break. They had a 6.02 ERA since the break, second worst in the Majors. (Only better than the White Sox, of course.)"

That was before a 10-2 beatdown at the hands of the Astros after James Paxton left due to injury .

The Red Sox entered the break with the fifth-best team ERA in MLB at 3.64. Since the break, it now sits at 6.21 and has fallen below even the Chicago White Sox (28-91) in that span.

The pitching implosion has not just been the starters or just the bullpen, but a team effort.

Since the break, Boston's starting pitchers have pitched to a 5.59 ERA over 21 starts and 104 2/3 innings. For those keeping score at home, that is an average of just below five innings pitched per start.

Boston's relievers have pitched to a 7.07 ERA in that span across 85 1/3 innings. The bullpen has averaged over four innings pitched per game, so much of the bullpen's struggles could be due to being overworked.

Things do not look to get any better in the coming week for the Red Sox, either. Their next off day is not until Thursday, August 22nd, and their next 10 games come against the Texas Rangers (55-63), the Baltimore Orioles (70-49), and the Astros.

While the pitching has left Boston searching for more, the offense performed even better in the second half of the season.

After finishing the first half with a team OPS of .748, Boston's offense has surged to a .853 OPS in the second half.

Despite their offensive success, they have not been able to overcome the poor pitching, and have played to a record of 8-13 this half.

While standing pat in the power rankings is very impressive for the Red Sox, it may be a bit too generous. The offense has been spectacular, the pitching, not so much. If that remains the case moving forward, the Red Sox will see their playoff hopes slowly dwindle down the stretch.