A few weeks ago, Fenway Park looked like a problem for the Boston Red Sox. Now it looks like the kind of place that can carry them into October.
Boston shook off a rough 2-5 road trip last week by coming home and winning five of six against National League West teams. The finish line was especially loud: the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants and Rafael Devers on Sunday, pushing their playoff odds above 98% according to ESPN and Fangraphs.
That’s a sharp turn for a club that spent the early part of the season dragging its feet at home. Fenway was once a real headache for the Red Sox, and the low point came on June 18, when Toronto swept them and Boston dropped to a season-worst 14 games under .500. At that point, the Red Sox were just 12-25 at home.
Since then, the script has flipped. Boston has gone 22-7 in its last 29 home games, and the change started almost immediately after that Blue Jays series. The very next weekend, the Red Sox swept four games from the rival New York Yankees at Fenway and have been rolling ever since.
The building itself has matched the surge. Anyone who has been there, or even watched on TV, has seen how alive Fenway has felt during this summer run. On Friday and Saturday nights, the ballpark was rattling at moments like Willson Contreras’ home run and Wilyer Abreu’s walk-off fielder’s choice.
That kind of atmosphere is exactly what Boston will want if it gets to host in the postseason. But first, there’s another hurdle: the Red Sox are three games behind the Yankees for the top wild card spot, and they head to Yankee Stadium for four games this weekend. If Boston wants to earn the chance to play at Fenway in October, the heavy lifting may have to come away from home.
In Other News...
Red Sox Finally Get A Real Read On That Pitching Trade
The trade sending Luis Perales to Washington for Jake Bennett has finally started to look like something both clubs can evaluate in real time. For the Red Sox, Bennett has already become a meaningful part of the 2026 rotation, giving Boston the kind of immediate pitching help it wanted when it moved a prospect with upside for a player closer to the majors.
Luis Perales, meanwhile, has reached the Nationals bullpen and is set for his MLB debut after a recent transition to relief. That shift matters because it gives Washington a first look at how his stuff plays in a different role, while Boston gets to measure whether it gave up a starter path for a pitcher who can make an impact in the big leagues sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Roster Squeeze Could Spark An Uncomfortable Trevor Story Debate
The Red Sox are riding a four-game winning streak and getting healthier at just the right time, but the improved outlook has brought a familiar front office problem back into focus. As key injured players return, Boston suddenly has to sort out a crowded middle infield, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Trevor Story sitting at the center of the decision.
On pure performance, Kiner-Falefa has given the club more, which is what makes the situation uncomfortable. Storys long-term contract changes the calculus, though, and the financial reality could push the Red Sox toward keeping him on the major league roster while Kiner-Falefa is the one who gets squeezed out. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Lineup Decision Against Marlins Raises A Bigger Adley Concern
A lineup absence for Adley Rutschman on Tuesday was enough to get attention, even with the explanation attached. The Red Sox sat their All-Star catcher against the Marlins because of a minor elbow irritation, with interim manager Chad Tracy saying Rutschman hyperextended the elbow on an aggressive swing and has been dealing with soreness. The message from the club was measured, and the decision was made more as a precaution than as a sign of a major problem.
Still, for a team that leans heavily on Rutschman behind the plate and in the middle of the order, any mention of elbow discomfort is worth monitoring. Boston opted to give him the day off rather than risk making the irritation worse, and the hope is that the issue stays in that lane. For now, the concern appears limited, but it is the kind of update that keeps one eye on the next lineup card. [Read more 🡒]