It's no secret that the Boston Red Sox's ugly start to the 2026 season was unexpected. After the team's busy offseason of trades and a sparse few signings, many fans and experts predicted that the Red Sox would be playoff contenders at the top of the American League East.
It took a few months in last place and many hideous performances from the offense, but Boston is finally a threat in the Wild Card conversation. It's won 15 of its last 17 games, including 10 straight to end the first half and begin the second, and place itself firmly in the Wild Card chase.
Many things had to go right for the Red Sox's winning pattern to take hold. Their pitchers have put on an incredible show, posting quality start after quality start. Offensive surges from Caleb Durbin, Tsung-Che Cheng and Anthony Seigler, as well as continued success from Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela have finally given the Sox the boost they've needed at the plate.
Finally, the team chief baseball officer Craig Breslow believes he cultivated over the offseason is coming to life. The winning surge has led to some fans and reporters changing their tune about some of Breslow's offseason decisions.
Red Sox media, fans beginning to give Craig Breslow credit where it's due
"Breslow was underqualified for the job when he got it, and we should have expected a learning curve, not that such a thing is allowed in this market. Maybe he is the right person for the job after all," Chad Finn wrote in The Boston Globe (subscription required).
"Breslow deserves praise for staying patient and sticking to his guns. And although his 'run prevention' roster-building strategy was scrutinized amid the offense's struggles, it has finally paid dividends, getting the club back into playoff contention and putting it in a position to buy before what should be a fascinating deadline," Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston wrote.
The Red Sox still have a lot of winning to do before they establish themselves as certain trade deadline buyers. Six of Boston's nine wins before the All-Star break came against the Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets, two of the worst teams in the league.
But Durbin and Seigler's breakouts are finally starting to make the Kyle Harrison trade, long thought irredeemable, look better. Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Contreras are excellent offseason additions, each integral to Boston's success. Jake Bennett, who came to the Sox as part of a small prospect-for-prospect trade, has also been a serious boon to the big league club.
The Red Sox's current success may not do much to save Breslow's job after the season, however. They still have a long second half ahead of them and the offense will have to kick every first-half bad habit to stay in the win column. The main concerns with Breslow are his lack of experience and horrific communication, neither of which improve with Boston's winning record.
But if the Sox can stay hot and Breslow's offseason additions continue their current level of play, the front office may be able to overlook his issues for at least another year. Maybe Boston's success can buy Breslow enough time to make things right with the front office and fanbase.
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