The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a tough wild-card battle with two months to go in the season, and the team has surprised everyone with the way it has turned its season around.
The Red Sox entered the All-Star break and have played well since then. Although the NBA champion Celtics are in the conversation in Boston, the Red Sox have been playing good baseball. They are trying to overcome obstacles and injuries. Here’s a look at where the Red Six currently stands.
Wild Card Battle
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Boston is now above .500 and in the running for the third wild card. They play an exciting brand of baseball by any measure. The Red Sox are menacing on the base pads and swing hot bats. Their defense is mediocre, but they play well enough to keep them in the game. Boston has been good on the road this year, as they recently won two of three games against Texas Rangers. They scored 22 runs and beat a team at the top of the standings.
The offense has been a strength all season and should continue to be successful. They have a strong lineup with everyone contributing. Jarren Duran has been a big catalyst for the Red Sox’s recent success. He’s hitting .355/.423/.629 with ten extra-base hits. It’s been fun to watch a young player slowly get going. Rafael Devers and Connor Wong also have good bats. The bullpen is holding up and the rotation is starting to pitch better.
Pitching and upcoming schedule
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Their pitching could make or break this team. They need to give them more good starts and decisive games. The bullpen was strengthened with the new players they received at the deadline. Additionally, Boston gave themselves a real opportunity with the two pitchers they signed at the trade deadline. They strengthened the bullpen by adding Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims in separate deals.
31 of the Red Sox’s next 37 games are against teams with winning records. It’s been fun to watch this team come to life and reach its potential. They need to improve their pitchers and their offense needs to stay consistent in the Red Sox’s race for the wild card. Stay tuned for MLB news and stories.
Featured Image: Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Image
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