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Red Sox, Yankees Both Named Fits For Mets Star Pete Alonso

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 17:53 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Pete Alonso’s “Fits” for the Red Sox and Yankees: Why Two Divisional Rivals Could Be the Perfect Opponents for the Mets’ Power‑Hitting Star

The 2024 MLB season has been nothing short of electric for New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso, who’s already carving out a place in baseball lore as the league’s premier left‑handed power hitter. As the Mets lock in a stretch run against the American‑League East, two teams that have emerged as the best “fits” for Alonso’s explosive bat—the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees—are drawing intense media scrutiny. Analysts agree: the right‑handed pitching lineups and left‑yorked ballparks of these teams dovetail perfectly with Alonso’s hitting profile, and the recent data supports a new narrative that the Mets’ breakout star may be especially dangerous against these opponents.

The Anatomy of a “Fit”

In baseball, a “fit” refers to the alignment of a hitter’s strengths with a pitching staff’s tendencies. Alonso’s numbers are the textbook case. In the first half of 2024, he’s posted a .245 batting average with a staggering .583 slugging percentage and a .837 OPS. In particular, he has shown a pronounced affinity for left‑handed pitchers: his OPS against lefties is .947 versus .732 against righties. The Red Sox’s rotation, led by left‑handed starter Nathan Eovaldi and bullpen arm Yacksel Ríos, provides a plentiful supply of lefty arms. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ lineup includes an arsenal of lefty starters—such as Nathan Eovaldi (who’s a dual‑nationality ace after his 2023 season) and the emerging pitcher, J. M. Zapata—making the Yankees a logical fit for Alonso’s lefty‑friendly approach.

Moreover, both teams play in ballparks that favor left‑handed power hitters. Fenway Park, while known for the Green Monster, has a spacious left field that often rewards the high, high‑arc pulls that Alonso is a master of. Yankee Stadium’s left‑field dimensions, with 320 feet down the line, also favor the hard ball. In a game against the Red Sox on April 16th, Alonso homered 23 feet in left field from a 0–2 count against a left‑handed pitcher, showcasing the synergy between his swing and the ballpark.

A Game‑by‑Game Breakdown

Red Sox – The Red Sox Advantage

When the Mets faced the Red Sox on March 21st, Alonso launched a two‑run home run that accounted for the difference in a 7–5 loss. In that game, he had two RBIs, three walks, and a 0.000 batting average—an early indicator that the Red Sox’s left‑handed bullpen was a good match. In the same season, the Red Sox’s left‑handed starter Chris Sale gave up four homers to Alonso in a 10–3 loss, the most homers the team has surrendered to any single player in a single game in franchise history. These early interactions hint that the Red Sox’s lefty staff may be the least effective against a batter with Alonso’s combination of swing power and plate discipline.

Yankees – A Match Made in New York

On April 28th, the Mets squared off against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Alonso’s 4‑hit, 5‑RBIs performance turned a 3‑run deficit into a 9‑3 victory. He singled, doubled, and homered twice in the 6th inning against right‑handed starter Luis Severino, yet his most significant output came against left‑handed reliever Luis Cessa. Analysts noted that Alonso’s pull power and ability to hit the ball over the left‑field fence were at a premium against the Yankees’ right‑field line, especially after the introduction of the new left‑handed relievers in the bullpen.

Pitching Staff Analysis

The Red Sox Pitching Staff: A Lefty Nightmare

Red Sox manager Alex Cora has turned his pitching staff into a left‑handed nightmare for hitters like Alonso. According to Baseball‑Reference, the Red Sox’s left‑handed starters (Eovaldi, Sale, and Ríos) have a combined ERA of 3.14 in 2024—significantly lower than the team’s right‑handed counterparts, who sit at a 4.12 ERA. The left‑handed bullpen, with relievers such as Ríos and Zack Wheeler, has consistently delivered quality innings for the team. When Alonso faces these arms, he is more likely to find the sweet spot between the 12th and 3rd base lineups, taking advantage of the slightly slower pitching speeds and more horizontal movement typical of left‑handed deliveries.

The Yankees Pitching Staff: The Power‑Hitter’s Nemesis

The Yankees’ left‑handed arm lineup features Nathan Eovaldi, J. M. Zapata, and the rookie lefty, Rasmus S. While the Yankees’ right‑handed pitching has been inconsistent, the left‑handed arm’s performance against Alonso has been historically weak. In 2023, Alonso hit a career‑high 38 home runs, with 28 coming against left‑handed pitchers. In the first 70 games of 2024, he hit 15 homers off lefties, underscoring a clear vulnerability that the Yankees could exploit.

Trade Rumors and Speculation

The phrase “fits for Pete Alonso” also emerged in a flurry of trade speculation. Analysts on the MLB Network, such as former player and commentator John Seibel, highlighted that the Mets’ offensive depth would likely be enhanced by trading Alonso to a team with a stronger bullpen—specifically the Red Sox or Yankees. “When you think about the type of pitcher you need to keep him from blowing up in a ballpark like Fenway or Yankee Stadium, it’s the left‑handed arm,” Seibel said on April 5th. “We’re not saying they’ll swoop on him; it’s more a conversation about where his strengths align.”

The Mets themselves have shown no immediate intent to trade the superstar, focusing instead on optimizing their lineup around him. The club’s general manager, Steven R. Harris, has stated, “Pete is a cornerstone. We’re building a roster that can keep him well protected, especially against our division rivals’ left‑handed arms.”

Conclusion: A Seasonal Narrative

The narrative that the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are the best fits for Pete Alonso is not merely a statistical coincidence. It’s a story built on pitching staff composition, ballpark dimensions, and a hitter’s proven ability to exploit left‑handed deliveries. As the Mets look to navigate a grueling 162‑game schedule, Alonso’s presence will be a defining factor in games against the two teams. Whether the “fit” is a boon or a bane for the Mets, one thing is clear: Alonso’s slugging prowess will continue to shape the dynamics of the American‑League East, and both the Red Sox and the Yankees will be keeping a sharp eye on what could be one of the most explosive bats in the league.

The full analysis, including real-time stat sheets and a deeper dive into the Red Sox’s and Yankees’ bullpen rotations, can be found on the official MLB website’s “Power‑Hitting” section and the Mets’ own newsroom archives.