For much of the unofficial first half, the Boston Red Sox were without two key role players from the 2025 team: lefty-masher Rob Refsnyder, who departed in free agency to sign with the Seattle Mariners, and Romy Gonzalez, who missed the first 81 games of the season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. However, as Major League Baseball was congregating in Philadelphia for All-Star Week, Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow swung a trade with the Detroit Tigers, landing outfielder Jahmai Jones in exchange for a player to be named later to fill the void left behind by Refsnyder and Gonzalez.   

Since joining the Red Sox on July 14, Jones has fulfilled the role incredibly well, primarily serving in a platoon role with Mickey Gasper, Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran. In 20 games against left-handed pitching since joining the Red Sox, the 29-year-old is hitting .481/.600/1.037/1.637 with three home runs and seven RBI. 

Overall, Jones is hitting .455/.561/.909/1.470 in 23 games. His OPS of 1.470 is the highest mark ever by a Red Sox hitter with at least 25 plate appearances in their first 23 games. His .455 batting average is the second-highest mark, trailing only Phil Gagliano’s .464 average during the 1972 season. 

Thanks in part to Jones’ performance, the Red Sox have been one of the best offenses in baseball against left-handed pitching, ranking in the top 10 in baseball in batting average (.258, 4th), on-base percentage (.336, 4th), slugging percentage (.434, 4th), runs scored (195, 9th) and weighted runs created plus (113, 5th). 

According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, right-handed starter Tanner Houck will join Double-A Portland next week for a rehab assignment. Houck has been out since May 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old is hoping to return to the Boston roster in a bullpen role prior to the end of the season. 

After dropping two of three in a tough series against the Mariners, the Red Sox will look to bounce back in a crucial four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards that gets underway on Thursday night. Boston currently holds a six-game lead over Baltimore in the Wild Card race. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.27 ERA) gets the start for the Red Sox opposite righty Brandon Young (9-3, 3.38 ERA) for the Orioles. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET.