The Boston Red Sox have flipped the script on their playoff picture over the course of the past month, both in the MLB standings and ESPN’s predictions.
On Tuesday, ESPN released the latest version of its Stock Watch and placed Boston as a “second level” contender in the AL, ranking at the No. 10 spot in Major League Baseball.
But don’t let that “second level” label fool you. Boston’s outlook has brightened considerably. In last month’s Stock Watch, ESPN gave the Red Sox just a 17.8% chance of making the postseason. On Tuesday, their playoff chances sat at 87.6%.
Not only that, the Red Sox jumped ahead of the Yankees in both the rankings and playoff chances. New York (ranked No. 11), was given an 87.2% chance of making the postseason. That’s down from 95.8% last month.
As part of the Stock Watch, ESPN assigned one “lingering concern” for each team. In Boston’s case, that concern was the starting rotation.
“This team makes a lot more sense if you plug a true No. 2 (or a co-No. 1) in the rotation next to Garrett Crochet,” ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle wrote. “The Red Sox are playing so well it seems greedy to quibble, but what will this look like in the playoffs? Some teams tread water with the rotation and ride the bullpen in October. Boston’s bullpen has been solid, but it seems like the Red Sox will need more balance. Boston needs big finishes from every starter not named Crochet. And Crochet, too.”
Despite not making a big splash at the trade deadline, the Red Sox have been on a hot streak as of late. Despite starting July with a losing record, Boston now sits 12 games over .500 with a record 63-51.
That’s thanks in large part to the Red Sox winning six straight (and eight of their last nine).
