The Boston Red Sox are heading into the All-Star break on a roll, but the pause might be arriving at exactly the right moment.
Boston has won 12 of its last 15 games, sits tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for third in the AL East, and is only 2.5 games behind the AL Wild Card spot. The next test comes Friday, when the Red Sox open a three-game set against the New York Mets, who are 40-54 and own the fifth-worst record in the majors.
Even with that momentum, the break gives the Red Sox something they badly need: time.
The injury list has piled up fast. Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony have been sidelined for months, and there’s no clear sign yet on whether either will return before the season ends.
Ranger Suarez was just put on the 15-day IL with a groin injury. Willson Contreras, who is technically suspended for five games now anyway, exited Boston’s win over the Chicago White Sox on Jul. 8 after fouling a ball off his foot.
Connelly Early landed on the 15-day IL on Jul. 1 because of elbow inflammation.
And that’s before getting to Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, Nick Sogard, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, all of whom have been out for a while and still don’t have a firm timetable.
That’s why the break matters so much. It gives Boston a chance to get healthier and, maybe, inch closer to full strength before the second-half push begins.
It also opens the door to a bigger question: what do the Red Sox do at the trade deadline?
Not long ago, the answer looked obvious. A month ago, it felt like Boston would be a seller, moving players such as Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, and maybe even Jarren Duran, then shifting the focus to development and next year. But the way the Red Sox have played lately has changed the conversation.
They’re still not out of the woods, and there’s plenty of baseball left. Still, Boston is making noise.
Its pitching staff has been one of the best in the majors all season, and now the offense is starting to come around too. On paper, the club still has flaws, but the sample is big enough now to suggest this isn’t just a short-lived burst.
The Red Sox still have work to do, especially when it comes to adding a legitimate power bat. But after the way they’ve steadied themselves, they’ve earned the chance to see where this season can go.
In Other News...
Red Sox Finally Have A Real Answer To Their Shortstop Problem
The Red Sox have played their way back into the AL Wild Card conversation, and the timing has only sharpened the need for a cleaner answer at shortstop. Injuries and underperformance have left the position unsettled for much of the season, turning what should be a stabilizing spot into one of the rosters most obvious pressure points as the schedule tightens.
Bostons front office has enough pieces to at least make a meaningful call if it decides to chase an upgrade, with the kind of outfield help, prospects and pitching depth that can get a rivals attention. The challenge is finding a move that fits both the urgency of the race and the long-term picture, because the Red Sox are no longer just patching a hole - they are trying to decide how aggressive they want to be in fixing it. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Seigler May Be Reviving A Skill Red Sox Fans Love
Switch-hitting has long carried a certain appeal for Red Sox fans, and Anthony Seigler is suddenly giving that old skill set a fresh look. The Brewers minor leaguer stopped switch-hitting about a year ago and had been attacking left-handed pitchers exclusively from the left side, a simpler approach for a player trying to find his footing in pro ball.
Seigler has now brought his right-handed swing back into the mix, and the early return has included a home run from that side on Friday night. It is the kind of development that can matter for a player searching for a path forward, because if the approach sticks, it could give him more ways to survive and maybe even carve out a longer major league future. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Face Rare Roster Squeeze In Crucial Sweep Chance
Bostons push for a sweep against the Mets comes with a roster crunch that leaves little margin for error. The Red Sox will have only 12 available position players for the game after a series of roster moves, including optioning infielder Brett Harris, while the bench is further thinned by Willson Contreras sitting out a suspension.
The lineup squeeze adds even more weight to a pitching assignment that already carries plenty of attention. Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera is set to take the ball after a scoreless relief appearance earlier this season, and his Triple-A work has given Boston a reason to trust him in a spot where the Red Sox need innings and efficiency to keep the sweep chance alive. [Read more 🡒]