Facing Jays, Red Sox hope managerial change sparks turnaround

Boston Red Sox players have been more than open about their feelings behind the organization's decision to fire manager Alex Cora and five members of the coaching staff Saturday.

An unpopular choice made by the front office could spark an early-season turnaround, though, as Boston has won back-to-back games entering the opener of a three-game series Monday against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

After a 10-17 start, Cora was canned. The Red Sox, although many bothered by the choice, added another victory Sunday, a 5-3 series-clinching win over the host Baltimore Orioles in Chad Tracy's debut as interim manager.

"I was shocked by the decision. I think that's a fair way to put it," Boston shortstop Trevor Story said. "I think those are some of the best coaches in the world and, obviously, our performance on the field kind of cost them their job."

Despite a rough start to the year, the Red Sox enter their third straight American League East series following a pair of impressive pitching performances. Starters Garrett Crochet and Connelly Early combined to throw 12 2/3 innings of two-run ball in the last two wins.

Hoping to prolong that stretch, Ranger Suarez (1-2, 4.00 ERA) is slated to make his sixth start in a Boston uniform. The 2024 All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies has failed to complete five innings in three of his five starts in 2026.

Last Wednesday, the 30-year-old lefty allowed four runs in 4 2/3 frames, suffering a 4-1 home loss to the New York Yankees. Suarez, who inked a five-year, $130 million deal in January, has faced Toronto twice in his career. In his lone start against the Blue Jays, he tossed seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory on June 13, 2025.

Toronto, meanwhile, has won five of its previous seven and took two of three against the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend.

Following a disappointing start for the reigning AL champs, the Blue Jays appear to be turning a corner.

Offseason addition Kazuma Okamoto, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the club after a decade playing in Japan, homered twice against Cleveland.

"As long as I'm in that lineup every day, I just want to do my best and give it my all for this team," said Okamoto, who leads the team with five home runs.

As the Blue Jays' offense has kept them afloat, the pitching staff would like to match the production. Toronto's 4.45 ERA ranks 11th in the AL.

Newcomer Dylan Cease (1-0, 2.10) hasn't been part of the problem, however. The 30-year-old right-hander matched a season-high with 12 strikeouts in his last start, yielding two runs in five innings in a 5-2 road win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

In six career starts against the Red Sox, Cease is 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA.

--Field Level Media