After the celebratory music stopped blaring after the Red Sox’s series-opening win over the Yankees, and the players started adjourning to their respective lockers, Alex Bregman strolled across the room to talk to Lucas Giolito.

The conversation wasn’t long, but it was meaningful. That was highlighted five days later on the very last pitch Giolito threw against the Orioles Tuesday night.

Pitch No. 104. Changeup. A swing and miss by Baltimore’s Jeremiah Jackson on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. It punctuated the Sox’s starter’s eight shutout innings. It also helped highlight a bigger and more powerful picture when it comes to this Red Sox team.

11 pitch battle.
Gio won. pic.twitter.com/8NeilcEFuA

— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 27, 2025

“This is the best I have ever been around as far as guys helping each other out. Bregman is a real treasure in that aspect,” Giolito said on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast. “He comes to me after my game last night and he’s like, ‘You’re doing this out of the windup. I think they had your changeup.’ I’m like, ‘OK, cool. Let’s work on that.’ You feel that extra layer of support.

“It’s like you go out there as a pitcher and you’re on an island, because we are. When we go out there we’re on our little island or hill and we’re responsible for a lot of what happens on the defensive side of the bell. It can get a little bit lonely sometimes. Usually the starters are close, the relievers are close, the position players are close. Here everybody is helping each other in different ways and it helps you create that more cohesive team environment. When I’m out there not only do I know these guys are giving their all to make plays for me, but they are looking to see if Lucas is giving his changeup and they have to let me know. It’s really great. It’s wonderful.”

When did the dynamic start?

“As soon as Bregman got here,” Giolito said. “He’s the catalyst. He’s great with it.”

Whether it’s thanks to the presence of the Red Sox’s new third baseman, additional roster turnover, or simply better health, Giolito has landed in a good place.

With this latest gem of a start offering an example of what the pitcher represents in this rotation, Giolito is living his best life. He has a 3.47 ERA, with the Red Sox going 15-6 in his starts. The 31-year-old also has totaled 119 1/3 innings, which is 20 2/3 away from securing a $19 million mutual option for the 2026 season.

But, most important to Giolito, he finds himself on this potential return to the postseason with a group he is clearly cherishing.

“Just being with these guys, man. It’s so fun,” he said. “We have a great group. We have younger guys, older guys. We all get along. We all have our jokes. Just going on this ride together. This is a special, fun place to be right now. Just trying to enjoy every moment.”

It’s not as though Giolito hasn’t had his moments before this go-round.

He is one of the ones in the Red Sox’s clubhouse who have experienced life in the postseason, pitching for the White Sox in the playoffs during both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. So when he proclaims, “The playoffs are (expletive) awesome,” he knows of what he speaks.

Because of his history with October baseball, Giolito can be the one imparting wisdom from across the clubhouse. He has earned that right.

This is, after all, currently the way of the Red Sox’s world

“First and foremost is staying present, playing good baseball today, tomorrow and the next day so we’re in a good position to be in the playoffs,” he said. “The (postseason) environment itself is electric. It’s a ton of fun. And I think doing it with this team, especially, the Red Sox, with the fan base and we’ve got Fenway Park and the history there, makes it more special.

“You have to enjoy it and appreciate it, but at the same time you’re playing the same game we have been playing the whole year. There is not much difference, other than the manager might have a quicker hook, the strategy of the game might be a little more tight, but that doesn’t mean you should play tight. You have to play your game, stay loose, have fun and enjoy it. Easier said than done, for sure. I got a true taste of the playoffs (in ’21) and I was like ‘Oh, yeah.’ Really, really cool memories.

“That’s all the more reason to hammer the point to play the same game we have been playing all year. We don’t need to ask more of Roman Anthony in the playoffs. Just go be Roman Anthony and have fun. We don’t need more from Garrett Crochet in the playoffs. Just go be Garrett. Just have fun, enjoy the moment, and enjoy the ride. The playoffs are frickin awesome but at the same time just have fun playing our game.”