Seven days and the fortunes have flipped on their head. A post All-Star break swoon continued, with the Red Sox dangerously close from playing themselves right out of playoff contention.
Boston lost six of their last eight games, including a five-game losing streak in which Boston plated a total of eight runs. Chances lost on the road, where the Red Sox had played well this season. Done in during this recent stretch not by a struggling staff, which mostly turned things around the last week, but by an offense that disappeared.
Much like their chances at making the 2024 playoffs.
Eyeballing the leaders
Scoring runs evaded the Red Sox even more in Friday night's game with the Chicago White Sox. In Boston's previous seven games, they had scored a grand total of 15 runs (seven of which came in one game).
Against the record-setting White Sox, the Red Sox pushed across only three runs. Thankfully, it was more than enough in a 3-1 victory.
Boston picked up only five hits, one of which was the eventual game winner. Ceddanne Rafaela broke a 1 to 1 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run home run. Hopefully this gets Rafaela, who has only four hits in his last 11 games, going again down the stretch.
Rafael Devers went 2-4 for the Red Sox.
Boston was backed by another decent outing from the pitchers. Starter Nick Pivetta lasted six innings, scattering five hits and one run while walking three and striking out six. Three relievers closed out the game, allowing only one hit in the final three innings.
This victory was a much-needed notch in the win column. After last week's dire shenanigans, Boston finds itself tied with the Detroit Tiger. These two teams are five games back of the final spot in the Wild Card race, with the Seattle Mariners slight ahead of them at 4.5 games out.
The Tigers have put together a nice run and in Boston's case, lucky no one team is separating themselves in this Wild Card race. The three teams currently in prime position (New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals) are all under .500 in their last ten games.
Boston sits 10.5 games back in the American League East. Probably a lost cause in considering a division title but hey, nothing a seven-game winning streak won't cure.
Upcoming week for Boston Red Sox
The most important item on the agenda is for Boston to take care of the next two games against the White Sox. No excuse not to win these games and to keep the postseason dream alive in 2024.
Including these games with Chicago, Boston (71-70) has 21 games left on the docket. After the White Sox, Boston welcomes the Baltimore Orioles to town. The Red Sox are 3-7 against the Orioles this season and a series win is a must.
Boston then hits the road for four games in New York against the Yankees. The Red Sox currently hold the season edge, 5-4, and at the very least a split is needed.
Last week, I felt the Red Sox needed to go 18-10 the rest of the way to make the playoffs. After this rough week, that now breaks down to 16-5. Boston might have wiggle room of a game or two, especially with other Wild Card teams not sprinting away from the field. But it will take the melding of solid pitching and the return of the offense to make that happen. If not, well, the disappearing act will be complete and the last two weeks will be simply a run to see if Boston can finish the season with a .500 record.
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