I sorted some stats. In the first 15 games (up to 15 Apr 2023) the Sox starters' ERA was 6.99, second worst in all of baseball. Their record was 7-8 (pretty decent actually considering how bad the starting pitching was). OAK starters' ERA in that same time frame was 9.71 which is historically pathetic, or we would have been the worst. In the last 20 games, the Sox starters' ERA has improved to 5.27 and not surprisingly, their record has been much better during that stretch, 14-6. The season record now is 21-14, surprisingly good.
Even in the last 20 games, a starters' ERA of 5.27 is not great. It would still rank in the bottom 10 of the league if that was their ERA for the season. Our current overall season starters' ERA is 5.93. I think this group of starters can pitch to and ERA in the range of 4.50 to 5.00, which would still be below league average. Sale seems to be settling in. Pivetta and Kluber have pitched in this range the last couple of seasons (better actually). Then we need to piece something together between Houck, Bella, Paxton, Whitlock, and maybe Crawford.
As to the hitting, I don't see it being any better than it has been so far this season but I can see it continuing. We will get Duvall back at some point (although Jarren Duran has been great) and we should get Story back. Masataka Yoshida has been a big surprise but looks like he is just a good hitter (vs. and outlier hot streak). Otherwise, the production we are getting all seems sustainable.
