A potential season-turning series on tap at Fenway
This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it usually in your inbox.
With 31 video games left, the Red Sox have left themselves little margin for error as they embark on a collection that may outline what the remainder of their season seems like.
After dropping the rubber match of a three-game collection with the red-hot Dodgers on Sunday afternoon, there was no time for reflection within the house clubhouse at Fenway Park.
This is as a result of the Astros are coming to city. The identical Astros who’re at present in possession of the third American League Wild Card spot, main the Blue Jays by 2 1/2 video games and the Red Sox by 4 1/2 video games.
On Aug. 1, the identical day that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom referred to as his staff underdogs, Boston had a 30 % likelihood to make the postseason per Fangraphs.
That proportion is right down to 14.4 %.
The math is straight-forward.
With a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champion Astros, the Sox could be proper again within the coronary heart of rivalry.
If they get swept, the Sox might be inclined to start out waiting for 2024.
Winning two out of three would enable the Sox to maintain desirous about a playoff run. Losing two out of three could be unsettling, however it wouldn’t be the tip of the world.
Every week in the past, Boston confronted a equally massive collection in Houston. The Astros received the primary two, and the Sox rallied to win the following two for a collection cut up.
This time, the Red Sox, with Chris Sale on the mound on Monday night time, have to be the tone-setters.
If Sale can elevate his staff to victory, the membership’s rising ace Brayan Bello can have the ball for the second sport.
Kutter Crawford is prone to begin the collection finale in opposition to nasty Astros lefty Framber Valdez.
“It’s going to be good to see Houston again, having seen them so recently,” stated first baseman Triston Casas. “I think we’re all going to have a better idea of what they’re trying to do to us this time around. It’s going to be a fun last five weeks.”
This has been the definition of a roller-coaster season for the Red Sox, so nearly any final result appears attainable. The one factor that hasn’t wavered is the membership’s mindset.
And that goes from the veterans to the rookies.
“Every series the rest of the year is going to be big,” stated Justin Turner. “So, like I said, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. I think if you start looking ahead and trying to see who’s coming up, that’s a bad recipe for that, I’ve realized over my career.”
“I think the team is in a really good spot right now,” Casas stated. “I think we’re getting a lot of pitching back, Trevor Story is taking over at shortstop almost full time now. But we’ve got to keep playing good ball. I think that’s been our Achilles’ heel is just getting on these cold streaks.”
One extra chilly streak will doubtless spell the tip of rivalry for the ’23 Sox.
Another sizzling streak might propel the Sox to an exhilarating end.
