Don’t print the tickets just yet, but it’s looking like the Boston Red Sox could be playing October baseball.
Just how hot are the Red Sox leading into Tuesday’s game north of the border in Toronto against the defending American League champion Blue Jays? Boston is 27–6 in their last 33 games, including a 15-game winning streak.
Just how hot are the Red Sox leading into Tuesday’s game north of the border in Toronto against the defending American League champion Blue Jays? Boston is 27–6 in their last 33 games, including a 15-game winning streak.
At the start of July, the Red Sox were 13 games out of first place. After running up a 21–4 July record, the Red Sox are now second, behind the New York Yankees, in the American League wild-card race. They are eight games behind the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Later this month, Boston travels to the Bronx for a three-game series with the Yankees. In late September, the Red Sox are scheduled for three games at Tampa Bay. For all three clubs concerned, these six games could be the difference of who is placed higher in the postseason, and who might be playing golf.
When describing how Boston has turned its season around since Alex Cora was fired along with five of his coaches on April 25 after the club was off to a disappointing 10–17 start, a seemingly never-ending list of statistics validates such an improbable change from goat to hero throughout New England. From games at the start of this week in Toronto, to a weekend visit, starting Friday, at the Pittsburgh Pirates, then back home on Monday welcoming the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games at Fenway Park, Boston will have completed 16 games in as many days.
During their extraordinary stretch of success, the Red Sox had clubbed 45 home runs, banged out 288 hits, and produced 178 RBIs. Winning has not only affected Boston in the MLB standings, but their fan base has gone from calling for team owner John Henry to sell the Red Sox to exciting the players over the support they are receiving.
Later this month, Boston travels to the Bronx for a three-game series with the Yankees. In late September, the Red Sox are scheduled for three games at Tampa Bay. For all three clubs concerned, these six games could be the difference of who is placed higher in the postseason, and who might be playing golf.
When describing how Boston has turned its season around since Alex Cora was fired along with five of his coaches on April 25 after the club was off to a disappointing 10–17 start, a seemingly never-ending list of statistics validates such an improbable change from goat to hero throughout New England. From games at the start of this week in Toronto, to a weekend visit, starting Friday, at the Pittsburgh Pirates, then back home on Monday welcoming the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games at Fenway Park, Boston will have completed 16 games in as many days.
During their extraordinary stretch of success, the Red Sox had clubbed 45 home runs, banged out 288 hits, and produced 178 RBIs. Winning has not only affected Boston in the MLB standings, but their fan base has gone from calling for team owner John Henry to sell the Red Sox to exciting the players over the support they are receiving.
Starting shortstop Andruw Monasterio is among the appreciative Red Sox of the cheers coming from the hometown crowds. After Friday’s game with the Athletics at Fenway before 36,696 fans, Monasterio spoke with reporters about how he and his teammates are the toast of the town.
“I love playing here,” Monasterio said. “These fans are number one in baseball. I love it, and I thank (all the fans) for that. I was on first base, and I saw this, and I was like, this is at another level.”
So much continues to go right for the Red Sox since Cora was replaced by Chad Tracy, who at the time of the change in managers was leading Boston’s Triple-A affiliate 45 minutes west of Boston—the Worcester (Massachusetts) Red Sox.
“I love playing here,” Monasterio said. “These fans are number one in baseball. I love it, and I thank (all the fans) for that. I was on first base, and I saw this, and I was like, this is at another level.”
So much continues to go right for the Red Sox since Cora was replaced by Chad Tracy, who at the time of the change in managers was leading Boston’s Triple-A affiliate 45 minutes west of Boston—the Worcester (Massachusetts) Red Sox.
Like the surge in winning since the spring, the subtraction of Cora and addition of Tracy are making a difference on the field. During his fifth season overseeing Boston’s top prospects and eager veterans to reach Fenway Park, at Worcester’s Polar Park, Tracy’s waiting for a break hasn’t disappointed.
Boston’s pitching, from the starting rotation to the bullpen, has delivered consistently. Sonny Gray, at 14–3, is second among all MLB starters in victories this season. Payton Tolle is 7–6, with a team-leading 124 strikeouts. Ranger Suarez has contributed 108 strikeouts, and Jake Bennett, who came over this season from the Washington Nationals, is 7–5. Future Hall of Famer Aroldis Chapman, who has been called upon in 41 games, has registered 27 saves, a 2.04 ERA, and in 39.2 innings has amassed 50 strikeouts.
A new addition to Boston’s lineup this season is first baseman Willson Contreras. Traded last December by the Chicago Cubs to Boston, the first baseman understands how important his club is to New Englanders. During the 15-game winning streak in July, Contreras explained after a home game with the Baltimore Orioles just what it meant for him to be part of the 2026 Red Sox and to represent such a passionate fan base.
Boston’s pitching, from the starting rotation to the bullpen, has delivered consistently. Sonny Gray, at 14–3, is second among all MLB starters in victories this season. Payton Tolle is 7–6, with a team-leading 124 strikeouts. Ranger Suarez has contributed 108 strikeouts, and Jake Bennett, who came over this season from the Washington Nationals, is 7–5. Future Hall of Famer Aroldis Chapman, who has been called upon in 41 games, has registered 27 saves, a 2.04 ERA, and in 39.2 innings has amassed 50 strikeouts.
A new addition to Boston’s lineup this season is first baseman Willson Contreras. Traded last December by the Chicago Cubs to Boston, the first baseman understands how important his club is to New Englanders. During the 15-game winning streak in July, Contreras explained after a home game with the Baltimore Orioles just what it meant for him to be part of the 2026 Red Sox and to represent such a passionate fan base.
Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox moves to tag out Tyler Soderstrom #21 of the Athletics on an infield ground ball during the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Aug. 9, 2026. Winslow Townson/Getty Images
“It’s great, especially for the fans,” Contreras said. “I don’t want them to start shouting, ‘Sell the team.’ I don’t like that. I take that personally. They’re passionate about it. But I’m really proud of my team. Really proud because of the way we started and how we are right now. I know there’s a lot of games ahead, but they make me proud.”
Boston’s offense is clicking on all cylinders, led by Contreras’s 23 homers, a .283 average, 70 RBIs, and hitting an unbelievable .921 OPS. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu has 2o round-trippers and 63 RBIs as of the Toronto series, and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela is keeping opposing pitchers on edge hitting .287, earning 61 RBIs, and an impressive .790 OPS. Boston’s winning continues to be a total team effort.
Star starting pitcher Garrett Crochet has been sidelined for most of the season nursing a rotator cuff injury, and starting shortstop Trevor Story, another key veteran counted on to be a difference-maker in 2026, is out of action with a sports hernia.
Boston’s offense is clicking on all cylinders, led by Contreras’s 23 homers, a .283 average, 70 RBIs, and hitting an unbelievable .921 OPS. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu has 2o round-trippers and 63 RBIs as of the Toronto series, and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela is keeping opposing pitchers on edge hitting .287, earning 61 RBIs, and an impressive .790 OPS. Boston’s winning continues to be a total team effort.
Star starting pitcher Garrett Crochet has been sidelined for most of the season nursing a rotator cuff injury, and starting shortstop Trevor Story, another key veteran counted on to be a difference-maker in 2026, is out of action with a sports hernia.
Yet, replacements continue to perform magnanimously. Caleb Durbin replaced the departed Alex Bregman at third base this season, and has only six errors in 280 total chances in the field. With the bat, Durbin has collected 92 hits in 111 at-bats.
The next six weeks of the Red Sox schedule will be their most important games played of the season. What they have accomplished since the Tracy era began has gotten them into the postseason discussion.
Where they go from their series this week in Toronto to their final regular-season game at Fenway against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 27 could outdo any of their last four championship runs. The journey and the ultimate prize gained in late October or early November are what films are made from and legends are born of.
