Ranger Suarez and the rest of the Red Sox rotation might be the team’s greatest offensive weapon

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 5: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on April 5, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images During Saturday’s win in St. Louis, the Red Sox scored a season high seven runs .

So with that established, let me stop and ask you a question: What player in a Boston uniform was most responsible for this offensive outburst? Perhaps it was Willson Contreras, who went 2-4 with 3 RBI against his former team. Or maybe you’d give the nod to Jarren Duran, who picked up his first multi-hit game since Opening Day and seems to be a spark plug for this offense whenever he gets going.

Heck, if you wanted to get cute, you could even say Ceddanne Rafaela, who was on base twice in the final three innings, including a line drive RBI single in the ninth that knocked in the first of the five runs forfeited in the final frame by the Cardinals. But do you know who I’m going with as an answer to this question? Ranger Suarez.

Why? Because the biggest reason the Red Sox lineup woke up and managed six consecutive singles in that ninth inning is because they were facing a reliever whose career might be in crisis if he doesn’t figure things out soon. Matt Svanson, the man on the mound for the meltdown, has now pitched in seven games so far this year, and he’s given up at least three runs in four of those outings.