After months of poor offense, the Boston Red Sox are finally beginning to look like the team they expected to be at the beginning of this season. They've won 10 of their last 12 games, including two series sweeps of American League opponents.
Boston's timing is quite convenient, as the trade deadline looms less than a month away and its fate as a buyer or seller is still uncertain. The Sox's 10 recent wins have lifted them out of last place in the AL East for the first time since late May and put them just three games out of a Wild Card spot — the fire sale that seemed inevitable just a few series ago may no longer the only path forward.
The Red Sox's current surge may feel familiar to fans. The club went through something similar last season when the perennially-.500 2025 team rattled off a 10-game win streak to go into the All-Star break with a 53-45 record. That torrid stretch carried them through the rest of the season (they finished the second half with a 36-28 record) and into the postseason.
The current Red Sox still have a good bit of winning to do before we can say for certain that history is repeating itself. The Chicago White Sox are no easy opponent this year, with a gutsy offense and some pitchers to fear. The New York Mets, on the other hand, Boston's final opponents before the All-Star break, don't have much going for them this season.
Like last year, the Red Sox are hitting their stride in the days before the All-Star break
The Sox's sudden winning has been fueled by excellent starting pitching performances and a burst of power. Boston's pitchers went on a 12-game quality start streak before the June 30 injury to Connelly Early. Ranger Suarez has since fallen injured, as well, though he hasn't been placed on the injured list. If both are out for an extended period of time, it could be much harder for the Red Sox to maintain their current winning stretch.
Much of Boston's power surge (15 homers in the last 15 games) has come from Willson Contreras, who has a suspension, and maybe an IL stint, awaiting him. MLB has yet to rule on his appeal of the seven-game suspension he was given after he charged the mound against the Washington Nationals, but he could be out for up to a week if the league decides not to shorten his punishment. His production will be hard for the Sox to make up, as he's slashing .360/.448/.800 with three homers and 11 RBI in his last seven games.
But if the Red Sox can fight through their injuries and muster series wins in their final two bouts before the All-Star Game, they could be on a similar trajectory to last season, especially if Roman Anthony comes back and performs like himself in the second half. They have a much less competitive AL to get through and a better run differential than any of the other teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race — a serious run is possible if Boston can keep up its current work.
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