Nothing sparks a struggling team more than sweeping its biggest rival. The Boston Red Sox may have found that spark when Jarren Duran delivered a walk-off single to complete a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees.
After spending much of the season as one of baseball's biggest disappointments, the Red Sox have started to change the narrative around their season.
Entering play on Monday, Boston sits just 4.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final American League Wild Card spot. That's hardly an impossible gap to overcome, especially in a debilitated American League where Seattle also sits below .500.
It's difficult to win consistently without your two best players. The Red Sox have learned that the hard way after losing Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony to injuries in late April and early May.
Even when both were healthy, the Red Sox stumbled to a 10-17 start that ultimately cost Alex Cora his job. A team with World Series expectations has never looked like it has found its identity all season long. However, that may finally be changing.
By sweeping the Yankees, Boston reminded everyone why it remains a dangerous playoff contender. The starting rotation has quietly begun to come together. Young left-handers Connelly Early, Peyton Tolle, and Jake Bennett have all pitched well recently. Veteran Sonny Gray, one of Boston's biggest offseason additions, also appears to be finding another gear. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning last night.
The bigger issue, however, remains the offense.
Boston ranks 29th in Major League Baseball in runs scored (328), 30th in home runs (71), and 21st in on-base percentage (.312). Those numbers won't win many games. Still, a lineup featuring Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu has far more upside than those rankings suggest. That potential was on full display against the Yankees.
If Boston can simply stay afloat and trim the Wild Card deficit to around three games by August, it has every reason to buy at the trade deadline. Any additions would come just as Crochet and Anthony return from injury.
In a season where few American League teams have separated themselves, the Red Sox suddenly look more than capable of making a legitimate second-half push.
