​The Red Sox are riding high. Take that as you will. Boston has coasted through this cross-country trip with impressive form, no matter who’s been on the other side. Momentum is on their side as they head into the All-Star break, a trend they’ve shown in recent seasons. But what happens next remains to be seen.
Here are three key takeaways from Thursday’s victory. Caleb Durbin stood out with a homer that proved decisive, a two-run blast that gave the Red Sox the lead and marked his ninth round-tripper of the season. While it’s tempting to draw comparisons between players, especially when evaluating Alex Bregman, it’s worth noting the numbers for the season back to Thursday’s action to gauge relative performance and trajectory.
On the mound, Sandoval delivered a solid effort in his first start since 2024. He lasted 65 pitches into the fifth inning, exiting after 4 ⅓ innings with one earned run allowed and five strikeouts. His fastball reached up to 96.1 mph on the day, a positive indicator for the pitcher’s velocity and potential effectiveness going forward.
The standings picture remains a focal point for Boston. Entering the day, the Red Sox were just three games out of the final wild-card spot in a challenging American League landscape. More telling is the fact that there were only three teams standing between Boston and that coveted berth—the Toronto Blue Jays, the Houston Astros, and the Minnesota Twins. This represents a narrowing gap compared to earlier in the season, when the roster faced more substantial deficits in the standings.
The overarching question remains: can Boston sustain this rise and outpace the field enough to secure a playoff berth in a manner that seems unlikely at first glance? The response will hinge on consistent performance, timely offense, and dependable pitching, all while navigating a competitive and crowded wild-card race. As the schedule unfolds, the Red Sox will need to maintain momentum, clamp down on divisional and non-divisional foes, and convert close games into wins to maximize their postseason odds.