A few weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox were struggling in Major League Baseball. Despite a large budget and a team of stars and promising young players, injuries severely impacted their performance in the first half of the season. By July, they were at the bottom of the American League East with a 37-48 record. They were 14 games behind first place and appeared to be potential sellers at the trade deadline. On June 21, their chance of making the postseason was only 8.4%, according to FanGraphs.
A Stunning Winning Streak
The Red Sox began an impressive comeback with a 14-game winning streak. This remarkable run happened even without key players like Garrett Crochet, Trevor Story, and Roman Anthony. During a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, they extended their streak to 15 consecutive wins. This tied a franchise record from 80 years ago and became only the eighth streak of 15 or more wins since 1961. The last team to do this was the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.
You keep stacking one win over another, and then you get close, and once you get within three or four, they start to feel like playoff games because you want to get there.– Caleb Durbin, infielder, as quoted by MLB.com
A Close Call for a New Record
On Wednesday night, the Red Sox had the chance to set a new record with 16 wins in a row. They were at Fenway Park against a struggling Orioles team. However, the Orioles scored four runs in the first inning, and the Red Sox lost 5-1. Despite missing history, their achievement was significant. It revitalized their season and altered the postseason dynamics in the American League East. Before losing, the Red Sox’s postseason likelihood had reached 67% as they secured the third wild card spot.
From Sellers to Buyers
The team’s sudden success raised questions about their strategy. Garrett Crochet aims to return by the playoffs, and Ranger Suárez is expected back soon, prompting Boston to consider acquiring more starting pitchers. Roman Anthony’s injury and Trevor Story’s extended absence mean they might need offensive support too.
Their winning streak came down to a mix of timely hitting, solid pitching, and fortune. In July, they had the best team ERA in baseball, and an OPS of .877 with runners in scoring position. Such performance fueled their turnaround.
Red Sox fans are now hopeful for the return of key players for a playoff push, with Crochet potentially in the mix. This prospect is a far cry from their standings at the beginning of July.
Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.