The Boston Red Sox are riding a ridiculous 12-game winning streak right now, turning their season completely upside down and shoving them right into the American League playoff picture. This team, which looked like total sellers just weeks ago, is now above .500 and controlling the final wild-card spot in what’s being called one of the weaker AL crops in recent memory. Seriously, who saw this coming?
Contreras, Gray, and the Boston Blitz
It’s wild how fast things can change. Willson Contreras declared during the All-Star Break that he wants to finish his career in Boston, saying he doesn’t want to be traded. Guess what? With this kind of surge, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow might actually be a buyer before the August 3 trade deadline. You know Aroldis Chapman, the future Hall of Fame reliever, probably isn’t going anywhere if this team is in the mix. Both Contreras and Sonny Gray have no-trade clauses, so they’re locked in anyway. Contreras (.925 OPS) and Gray (2.54 ERA) have been huge in their first seasons, and Ranger Suárez (3.15 ERA) was too before hitting the IL. But here’s the kicker: Suárez, Connelly Early (left elbow inflammation), Roman Anthony (right ring finger sprain), and Trevor Story (sports hernia surgery) are all coming back from the IL. Imagine that! Plus, if former All-Star Jarren Duran, who’s only batting .193, finds his form, this team could get even scarier. Adding another high-leverage reliever to pair with Chapman and Garrett Whitlock? That would be just unfair. This 12-game stretch hasn’t just turned this season around, it could honestly change their long-term trajectory.
Pittsburgh’s Power Surge Is Real
Over in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing some serious work, even if their 51-47 record doesn’t fully show it. With a plus-50 run differential, this team should absolutely be better, and they probably will be in the second half. What’s truly amazing is they’re second in MLB in runs scored after finishing dead-last in 2025. General manager Ben Cherington definitely took himself off the hot seat with offseason pickups like Brandon Lowe (21 home runs) and Ryan O’Hearn (.838 OPS). Yeah, Marcell Ozuna’s one-year, $12 million deal has been a bit of a dud with a .623 OPS, but there’s more good news on the horizon. Konnor Griffin (torn left ring finger tendon) and Oneil Cruz (metacarpal fractures) are on the IL, but both are expected back before the season ends. On the mound, reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes has a 3.57 ERA over 20 starts, but his 2.72 expected ERA and 2.88 FIP scream that positive regression is coming. Braxton Ashcraft, a first-time All-Star, has been Pittsburgh’s best starter with a 9-3 record and 3.49 ERA. Bubba Chandler’s league-leading 55 walks are definitely a problem for his ERA, but the potential is there.
With the All-Star break behind us, it’s crunch time. These two teams are showing that a strong push can completely reshape the postseason landscape. Keep an eye on Boston to see if they keep up this unbelievable winning pace, and watch Pittsburgh to see if their advanced numbers truly materialize into a dominant second half. The race for those precious postseason spots just got a whole lot more exciting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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