The team entered spring training with a new leader in baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, and a new field manager, Ron Roenicke.

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.

[3] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.

[6] The team ended the season with a record of 24 wins and 36 losses, finishing in last place in the American League East division, 16 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

[9] As the season came to a close, principal owner John W. Henry and chairman Tom Werner stated that they want the team to get its payroll under the Major League Baseball luxury tax threshold.

"[86] The Red Sox' opponents:[87] † The Blue Jays' home ballpark during the 2020 regular season was Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York.

Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi got the win, pitching six innings while allowing five hits and one run; he struck out four batters.

In a game with multiple lead changes, two home runs and five RBIs by Aaron Judge led the Yankees to the win.

Boston's run came on a second-inning RBI by Christian Vázquez; the Blue Jays tied the game in the seventh, then took the lead in the eighth.

Down 8–0, the Red Sox scored all of their runs in the eighth inning, which included the team's first grand slam of the season, by J. D. Martinez.

Boston starter Kyle Hart, making his major league debut, allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks in two innings of work, and took the loss.

Started Nathan Eovaldi earned his second win of the season, holding Baltimore to one run on five hits in seven innings while striking out six batters.

[93] Playing again in Buffalo during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston defeated Toronto by the same score, 9–7, in the first game of a scheduled three-game series.

The Blue Jays jumped out to an early 4–0 lead, and led 6–3 before the Red Sox scored six runs in the sixth inning.

Three of those runs came on a triple allowed by reliever Phillips Valdéz, who entered the game after Brewer had loaded the bases in the fifth inning.

Alex Verdugo went 3-for-4 for Boston, as the Red Sox ended August with a 12–23 season record, last place in the AL East.

[95] Boston opener Andrew Triggs had a no decision, with reliever Matt Hall taking the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in 2+1⁄3 innings.

Red Sox tied the series 2–2 (15–22 runs) September 15–September 17, at Miami Marlins Boston won the first game of a three-game series, 2–0, with pitcher Tanner Houck earning the win in his MLB debut, striking out seven batters in five scoreless innings while holding the Marlins to two hits.

The Red Sox won the final game of the series, 5–3, with starter Nathan Eovaldi earning the win, and Barnes recording his eighth save.

Reliever Ryan Weber took the loss, while Christian Arroyo homered, and J. D. Martinez went 0-for-6 and saw his average drop below the Mendoza Line.

New York won the second game, 8–0, with starter Chris Mazza taking the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in four innings.

[97] Boston won the final game of the series, 10–2, as the win went to Tanner Houck, who held New York to one hit and one unearned run in six innings.

Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta earned the win in his Red Sox debut, allowing one run on four hits in five innings while striking out eight batters.

Starter Martín Pérez allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings and took the loss, in Boston's final home game of the season.

Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for Boston, while Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. hit the longest home run of the 2020 season, at 495 feet (151 m).

Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, J. D. Martinez, and Jonathan Araúz each homered, as the team finished the season in last place in the AL East, with a 24–36 record.

† Minimum 3.1 plate appearances per team games played AVG qualified batters: Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers, Martinez, Vázquez, Verdugo

‡ Minimum 1 inning pitched per team games played ERA & WHIP qualified pitchers: Pérez Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2020

[101] MLB scheduled the Red Sox to play a total of 60 games against nine opponents[102][103][104]—four in the American League East and five in the National League East—involving travel to Washington, D.C. (Nationals) and five states outside of Massachusetts: Florida (Marlins and Rays), Georgia (Braves), Maryland (Orioles), New York (Mets, Yankees, and Blue Jays), and Pennsylvania (Phillies).

[66] The draft was limited to five rounds, per agreement reached in March 2020 between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).