Before August 16, the Boston Red Sox hadn't lost three-straight series since the beginning of the season. But beginning on August 8, the Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates — not exactly the toughest competition — sent Boston spiraling back to earth.
Earlier this month and in the weeks before, the Red Sox were enjoying a winning stretch like no one had ever seen, going 30-5 in June and July. The tides have changed as exhaustion sets in around the roster, injuries pile up and the offense suffers.
Boston still holds the second Wild Card spot in the American League and its playoff chances still sit at 92.4 percent, according to FanGraphs. But another rough series could be a recipe for trouble— the Arizona Diamondbacks, who just fell into third place in the National League West, are no slouch and their three games at Fenway Park will be a test for both teams.
The Sox's Wild Card standing could be more precarious because another division rival is surging. The Baltimore Orioles have forced their way into the picture after beating the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in three games and winning four of their last five games. That streak may not sound like much to Red Sox fans who just saw their favorite team win 15, then nine games in a row, but the playoff chase is already tight.
Four AL East teams in Wild Card standing as Orioles surge to join Rays, Yankees and Red Sox
Six teams are within 2.5 games of the third Wild Card spot, meaning the Orioles have enough competition to keep them from worrying about passing Boston. That also means that, if the Red Sox continue to slip, any of those six other teams could surge and displace them. After Boston's bout with the D-Backs, the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins follow, but the Red Sox team that left 19 men on base and went 6-for-27 with runners in scoring position against the Pirates might not be able to beat them.
The Rays and New York Yankees remain in their long-held places at the top of the division and the Wild Card standings and the Orioles joining them means there are four AL East teams in the playoff mix. The Blue Jays aren't far behind as one of the six teams within 2.5 games of the O's playoff spot, but all five division rivals can't hold playoff standing at once.
The Red Sox will have to get back on the winning track to keep their standing with so many teams hot on their tail. They aren't in as dangerous as spot as Baltimore, but anything can happen in the final weeks of the season.
Boston has many injuries to contend with as the hot-hitting Masataka Yoshida hurt his leg against the Pirates, and Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten are out of commission. Trevor Story and Roman Anthony are expected back in the coming weeks, however, and they may be able to help the Sox get hot again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google