Are the Boston Red Sox… for real?
Winners of 10 straight heading into the All-Star break, this season has taken a complete 180, and now the Red Sox look like they can do some damage in the second half.
Here is what MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal had to say, via “Foul Territory”:
“I don’t believe they’re a fraud…They need more, and they probably need help in the bullpen, too. But, they to me, in a weaker American League, are a real World Series contender.”
Rosenthal also emphasized how strong performances from starting pitchers Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have been keys to success.
Bello has been brilliant since a rough outing versus the Atlanta Braves on May 18, going 4-2 with a 2.69 ERA, a 3.55 FIP, and 50 strikeouts to 15 walks over his last ten starts and 60 and 1/3 innings.
Giolito finally looks acclimated after so much time away from the mound. It did take him a little bit, but over his last six starts and 38 and 2/3 innings, he is 5-0 with a 0.70 ERA, a 2.62 FIP, and 37 strikeouts to 10 walks.
Combine those two with ace Garrett Crochet, and Boston could roll out a formidable three-man crew for the postseason.
There are still loads of baseball to be played, and Boston has to prove that its streak was rooted in merit, not weak competition (six wins came against the Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies; the other four were the Tampa Bay Rays).
But, this American League East is wide open. The Toronto Blue Jays are clinging to first place with every team not named the Baltimore Orioles legitimately in this race halfway through the year.
If the Red Sox can make a few moves at the deadline, they could find themselves commanding this race.