It’s been a week to forget for Boston Red Sox third-year Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow as the Red Sox season reached a new low point after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, which led to increased questions about his job security. While not much has gone right in Breslow’s offseason plan, he hit a home run in a pair of trades with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire two key veterans in Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray. 

Not only were Contreras and Gray the stars of the show on Friday night as the Red Sox finally broke through and delivered their most convincing win of the season at Fenway Park, a 10-1 win over the Texas Rangers, but they have been Boston’s two steadiest performers in a season filled with ups and downs. 

Texas got to Gray early with a trio of first-inning singles to take a 1-0 lead. However, the 36-year-old settled down nicely en route to one of his best starts of the year. Gray allowed just the one run on five hits while striking out seven, recording his team-high eighth win of the season. 

In the absence of ace Garrett Crochet, Gray has been the steadying force for Boston’s rotation, doing exactly what you’d expect of a 13-year veteran. Whether it be his last start in New York, where he clearly didn’t have his best stuff, but was able to grind through 6.1 innings dancing in and out of hard contact, or a night on Friday, Gray has given the team exactly what it needs, regardless of how his stuff on the mound looks. 

After Friday night’s start, Gray's 3.03 ERA now leads Red Sox starters with a minimum of 60 innings pitched. 

Like Gray, Contreras is willing to give you everything he has on a nightly basis, even if it isn't his best, and is willing to grind through minor ailments to post, setting a great example for Boston's young core. 

The 34-year-old has been the lone constant in a Boston lineup that has struggled to generate offense for much of the season, leading all qualified Red Sox batters in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, and wRC+.

"He's our guy, that guy's our presence in the middle of the order that can do instant damage," interim manager Chad Tracy said of Contreras' offensive production after Boston's May 16 win in Atlanta. 

Along with being a presence in the heart of the Boston lineup, Contreras has filled a defensive hole at first base that has been present since the 2020 trade that sent Mitch Moreland to San Diego. Contreras ranks among the top seven defensive first basemen in baseball in both defensive runs saved and outs above average, while being tied for the fourth-highest fielding run value. 

Not only has Contreras been Boston's most consistent hitter and a defensive stalwart at first base, but he has also been one of the most vocal leaders to step up into the leadership void left behind when Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs during the offseason, being willing to answer the tough questions from the media when things aren't going well, or call out his teammates when they need to find a spark.

"Obviously, the way he plays the game, his leadership with the guys,"  Tracy said of Contreras' impact after Friday's win. "Then you can look at the numbers, and you start watching the numbers stack up, like he's having a heck of a season," he continued. 

In a season where it has been easy to criticize Breslow for what has proven to be an insufficient offseason, Gray and Contreras have been two bright spots. 

Contreras will play first and bat fourth when Red Sox and Rangers face off in game two of a three-game set at Fenway Park. Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.18 ERA) gets the start for Boston opposite Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.18 ERA) for Texas. First pitch set for 4:10 p.m. ET. 

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