Entering the 2025 season with high hopes fueled by bold offseason moves, the Boston Red Sox have struggled to meet expectations. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's strategy included the acquisition of ace Garrett Crochet and the signing of Alex Bregman. However, the team's performance has fallen short, leaving them under .500 despite still being in contention for a Wild Card berth. The issues primarily stem from the starting rotation, particularly the underwhelming performances from newcomers Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito.

Giolito, recovering from an elbow procedure, has shown signs of improvement with a recent 1.00 ERA over 18 innings, yet inconsistencies remain. Conversely, Buehler's $21 million contract has not delivered the expected value, with a concerning 6.29 ERA and struggles to pitch beyond the fourth inning. If the Red Sox hope to salvage their season, they need significant contributions from these key pitchers.