CORA’S SHOCKER: Alex Cora Guarantees Red Sox Will Take Down Dodgers
Could the Boston Red Sox be the team to topple the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025? ESPN’s Buster Olney thinks so.
After a busy offseason of roster upgrades, including bolstering the starting rotation and reinforcing the lineup, Olney believes the Red Sox are “uniquely qualified” to win the AL East and challenge the Dodgers in a potential World Series showdown.
“In the end, an AL team will have a seven-game series to take down the Dodgers,” Olney wrote. “And we submit that the revamped Boston Red Sox are uniquely qualified to get this done.”
Olney pointed to Boston’s improved rotation as a critical factor. With power lefty Garrett Crochet potentially opening a series and former Dodger Walker Buehler taking Game 2, the Red Sox may be able to counter the Dodgers’ deep rotation, which includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and a soon-to-return Shohei Ohtani.
Offensively, the Sox are stacked with Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and newly acquired Alex Bregman anchoring the lineup. Their postseason experience, especially Devers and Bregman, could be pivotal in big October moments.
While Olney acknowledged the bullpen could be a weak spot, he noted that Boston’s young talent — Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer — could either step up or become valuable trade chips to fill remaining gaps.
Fellow ESPN insider Jeff Passan offered a more cautious outlook. While he agrees Boston’s path through the AL is favorable — particularly with a banged-up Yankees squad — he still sees a sizable gap between the Sox and the star-laden Dodgers.
“The difference between the teams — at least as they’re currently constituted — is more canyon than gap,” Passan said.
Still, as the 2025 MLB season opens, Boston may be better equipped than most to pull off the ultimate October upset.
