Could the Boston Red Sox actually do the unthinkable and get into the postseason?
After firing Alex Cora, countless injuries and overall bad baseball, the Red Sox making the postseason seemed impossible. However, after rattling off five straight wins, they are 3 1/2 games out of a postseason spot entering play on Thursday. There's plenty of work to be done, but suddenly, the idea of the Red Sox making the postseason does not seem as far-fetched.
The Red Sox are six games under .500, but if they can get within a couple of games of a wild card spot in the next week or two, they could be buyers at the trade deadline. Craig Breslow has continuously noted that the team has no intention of giving up on the season, and their recent win streak could be the start of a special turnaround.
While it's fun to think about the Red Sox making a late-season surge like the 2023 New York Mets did on their way to the National League Championship Series, plenty of things have to go right. For one, the Red Sox need to get healthy, and Willson Contreras exiting Wednesday's game will not help things.
Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet are also still injured, and their returns would certainly give the team a huge boost. After finishing the series against the Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox will take on the New York Mets, who have looked like a dumpster fire at times this year. They could go into the All-Star Break riding a hot stretch.