August wasn’t exactly kind to the Boston Red Sox, who closed the month with a 13-15 record and dropped six of their last nine contests. As September began, they sat 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot and carried a modest 15.6% playoff probability according to FanGraphs.
To be fair, the team’s slide didn’t start in August—it was already apparent by mid-July. Still, the path ahead has gotten steeper. But rather than dissect the season or forecast the future, we’re here to evaluate individual player performance for the month of August.
This monthly ranking blends recent on-field results with season-long contributions and overall team impact. Only players who appeared in at least one MLB game with the Red Sox in August and are still part of the organization were considered. That means saying goodbye to Dominic Smith, who ranked No. 9 last time.
Let’s dive into the rankings.
35. Brad Keller (Previously Unranked)
Tossed eight innings over two outings in relief but struggled, allowing eight runs (six earned). He’s bounced on and off the roster and recently re-signed after being DFA’d.
34. Bailey Horn (Previously 28)
Shuttled between Triple-A and the bigs, posting a rough 6.23 ERA and even worse 8.48 FIP over just over four innings.
33. Mickey Gasper (New Entry)
The 28-year-old infielder made his MLB debut on Aug. 12 but went 0-for-11 at the plate.
32. Lucas Sims (Previously 17)
Landed on the IL with a lat strain. That may explain his shaky 8.68 ERA across 10 games.
31. Luis García (New Entry)
Another trade deadline addition who struggled. Despite a minuscule walk rate, he was tagged for a 10.13 ERA before elbow inflammation sidelined him.
30. Josh Winckowski (Previously 24)
Added to the trend of struggling relievers, allowing 12 earned runs in 13.1 innings.
29. Chase Shugart (New Entry)
Made his MLB debut with a couple of respectable innings but was quickly sent back down. He’s since been recalled.
28. Brennan Bernardino (Previously 26)
Despite a high strikeout rate, he gave up 10 runs in 12 innings. His control faltered as well.
27. Enmanuel Valdez (Previously 27)
Limited time in the big leagues in August with just seven plate appearances, but he’s back on the roster.
26. Romy Gonzalez (Previously 18)
Still valued for his versatility, but his bat underwhelmed—just a 66 wRC+ with a 30%+ strikeout rate.
25. Cam Booser (Previously 23)
Before heading to the IL with elbow inflammation, he was having a so-so month on the mound.
24. Nick Sogard (New Entry)
Though his offense lagged (47 wRC+), his glove work in the infield provided value.
23. James Paxton (Previously 21)
Delivered one solid start early in the month before a calf strain led to a 60-day IL placement.
22. Justin Slaten (Previously 22)
Returned from injury to toss two clean outings late in the month.
21. Danny Jansen (Previously 16)
Made MLB history by representing both the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the same game on Aug. 26. Offensively, though, he struggled with a 46 wRC+.
20. Cooper Criswell (Previously 13)
Worked as both a starter and reliever, but lacked control and posted more walks than strikeouts.
19. Connor Wong (Previously 14)
Still enjoying a solid overall season at the plate for a catcher, but August was rough with a 74 wRC+.
18. Rob Refsnyder (Previously 15)
His production keeps dipping each month—he’s still getting regular playing time but struggling to make it count.
17. David Hamilton (Previously 25)
Flashed some pop and speed—three homers and seven steals—before a finger injury ended his month.
16. Greg Weissert (Previously 29)
Had one of the standout moments of the month defensively and continued to earn respect out of the bullpen.
15. Tyler O’Neill (Previously 3)
Hot-and-cold stretch continued. Walked often, hit some long balls, but struck out nearly half the time.
14. Kutter Crawford (Previously 10)
Struggled early in the month, recovered slightly, but his August numbers were disappointing overall.
13. Nick Pivetta (Previously 7)
Finished strong but had several rough outings that left his monthly ERA over five.
12. Zack Kelly (Previously 20)
Solid relief work—2.45 ERA across 11 innings—but underlying stats suggested he benefited from some good fortune.
11. Ceddanne Rafaela (Previously 8)
Made most of his starts at shortstop, with decent defense and a few clutch moments, but overall offensive impact was limited.
10. Kenley Jansen (Previously 12)
Posted a 2.70 ERA, struck out batters at a high rate, and didn’t issue a single walk all month.
9. Rich Hill (New Entry)
A sentimental favorite returning to Boston, Hill made a spot start and pitched decently, though September outings aren’t counted here.
8. Triston Casas (New Entry)
Came back from injury and started red-hot before cooling off at month’s end. Still a solid 109 wRC+ in his return.
7. Chris Martin (Previously 19)
Dominant relief work—zero walks, high strikeout rate, and a microscopic ERA/FIP combo.
6. Rafael Devers (Previously 1)
Slumped at the plate with an 84 wRC+, possibly due to nagging injury, but still leading the team in overall offensive production.
5. Jarren Duran (Previously 2)
Had a huge month statistically, including a 20-20 milestone, but his off-field actions (homophobic slur incident) cast a shadow.
4. Brayan Bello (Previously 11)
Continued to develop into a frontline starter, highlighted by an eight-inning gem against Toronto.
3. Tanner Houck (Previously 4)
Worked deep into games and threw more innings than anyone else on the team in August. Results were mixed, but durability was key.
2. Masataka Yoshida (Previously 5)
Had one of the best offensive months on the team with a .326/.381/.516 slash line, driving home the narrative of his mid-season rebound.
- Wilyer Abreu (Previously 6)
August belonged to Abreu—he provided power, speed, defense, and consistency. Slashing .282/.345/.551 with five home runs, he emerged as one of Boston’s most complete contributors. - https://www.prodetroitstore.com
