Boston Red Sox surge from last place to Wild Card contention
After a poor start and a mid-season managerial change, the Red Sox have posted a 20-3 run, moving into a Wild Card position and becoming net buyers at the trade deadline.
The Boston Red Sox, who were 32-46 and in last place in the American League on June 24, have turned their season around with a 20-3 stretch that includes a 15-game winning streak. The team now sits at 52-49, holding a Wild Card spot and seeing its playoff probability rise to about 62% according to FanGraphs.
Manager Alex Cora was dismissed after a month of play and replaced on an interim basis by Triple-A manager Chad Tracy. Injuries to key pitchers Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet contributed to the early struggles. Since the turnaround, the club has shifted from a seller to a buyer in the trade market, targeting infield depth, a catcher, a right-handed bat, additional rotation pieces, and bullpen help.
Infield performance remains uneven. First baseman Willson Contreras has been a bright spot, while third baseman Caleb Durbin improved his slash line to .297/.356/.527 after a slow start. The middle infield is still uncertain after Trevor Story’s .206/.244/.303 line and subsequent hernia surgery, followed by injuries to shortstop Marcelo Mayer and utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Tsung-Che Cheng and Anthony Seigler are currently covering shortstop and second base, though both lack major-league experience.