The Boston Barometer: Volume 19
The Red Sox just keep winning.
As each week passes, I become more amazed by what the Red Sox are accomplishing. This isn't just a hot streak or an extended winning streak anymore. This has become sustained success over a significant stretch of the season. The Red Sox went out on 7-game west coast trip and won both series against the A’s and Dodgers including a sweep against the Dodgers in LA. The Red So have now won 23 out of their last 26 games and 28 out of their last 33, a stretch that has completely transformed its season.
What stands out most during this run is the team's resilience. In each of their six victories this week, the Red Sox fell behind before battling back to win. During the first three months of the season, overcoming deficits felt nearly impossible. Now, it seems as though a switch has flipped, and comebacks have become part of this team's identity.
Road Warriors
In the past, many successful Red Sox teams dominated at Fenway Park but struggled away from home. This 2026 club has taken a different path. Although they've turned things around at Fenway over the past two homestands, they've been outstanding on the road all season. Over their last 16 road games, the Red Sox are an incredible 15-1
The Red Sox have the second-most road wins in the American League, trailing only the New York Yankees. Their ability to consistently win away from Fenway Park has been one of the biggest reasons for their turnaround this season.
All the Reasons to Buy
Over the last six weeks, the Red Sox have swept the best team in the American League in a four-game series, swept the second-best team in the American League in another four-game series, swept the third-best team in the American League in a three-game series, and now have swept the best team in baseball, the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
This remarkable stretch couldn’t have come at a better time. The Red Sox knew it was time to make their move, and they responded by playing their best baseball of the season.
There is nothing more this team could have done to convince Craig Breslow that it is worth investing in. They have proven they can compete with—and beat—the league’s elite teams. Breslow should be willing to push his chips into the middle of the table and fully commit to building a legitimate contender.
This team is finally beginning to fulfill the vision Breslow had when he took over baseball operations. Making meaningful additions at the trade deadline would not only strengthen the roster but also show confidence in the foundation he has spent the last few years building
Do the Red Sox Answer?
The two teams Boston is chasing in the AL East have already improved their rosters.
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. While Peralta has struggled this season with the Mets, everyone knows what tends to happen when underperforming pitchers arrive in Tampa Bay. The Rays have a remarkable track record of making subtle adjustments to mechanics or pitch usage that unlock another level. It wasn’t long ago that Peralta was one of the better pitchers in the National League. I wouldn’t be surprised if he regains that form and becomes a key contributor down the stretch.
The Yankees addressed one of their biggest needs by acquiring Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals. At the time of the trade, García Jr. owned a .560 slugging percentage, giving New York another dangerous bat while Aaron Judge remains sidelined.
It’s an interesting fit because García Jr. is primarily a first baseman or designated hitter. For now, the Yankees can rotate him with Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt, but once Giancarlo Stanton returns, they’ll have a bit of a roster crunch. They may even move Rice back behind the plate more often just to keep everyone’s bat in the lineup. That’s a problem for another day. In the short term, García Jr. helps keep the Yankees’ offense afloat until Judge returns.
The question now becomes whether the Red Sox feel pressure to answer.
Technically, Boston already made an addition by acquiring Curtis Mead, but his injury unfortunately neutralizes the impact of that move. The Red Sox could still use another catcher or shortstop to bolster the offense, and adding a starting pitcher would help take some of the workload off their young rotation.
Can Craig Breslow find a reasonable deal that improves the roster without sacrificing the organization’s long-term future? After what this team has shown over the past six weeks, they’ve earned the opportunity to receive reinforcements.
Sometimes it’s the moves you don’t make
Last season, the Red Sox had their sights set on Joe Ryan at the trade deadline. They put all of their chips into that pursuit, but when the two sides couldn’t agree on a deal, Boston was forced to pivot to Dustin May. It was an ugly outcome.
It was later reported that the Red Sox were willing to include Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias in a package for Ryan, but the Twins declined.
Fast forward to today, and it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox offering either player for Joe Ryan—let alone both. While Ryan certainly would have helped stabilize an injury-riddled rotation last season, I think most Red Sox fans would rather have Tolle and Arias than Ryan right now. Tolle is emerging as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter, while Arias has developed into one of the top three prospects in all of baseball.
This time of year can be dangerous for front offices. The pressure to improve a contender can lead to desperation. But just because a deal doesn’t happen doesn’t mean a team failed to do its job. Sometimes the asking price for players with multiple years of team control becomes unreasonable, and the smartest move is walking away.
The best trade can be the one you don’t make.
Up Next
The Red Sox have an off day on trade deadline day. As a fan, I’ve always wished every team had that day off. It would allow front offices to focus solely on making deals instead of balancing trade negotiations with roster moves for that night’s game.
Now, all eyes turn to Craig Breslow. Can he make additions that genuinely move the needle?
The Red Sox return home for a three-game series against the first-place Chicago White Sox, who will be looking for revenge after Boston swept them before the All-Star break. The Athletics then come to Fenway for a three-game weekend series after dropping six of seven games last week.
It’s another week where the Red Sox have an opportunity to keep stacking wins. If Breslow can put together a strong trade deadline, the atmosphere at Fenway Park could be the best it has been all season as Boston looks to extend this remarkable stretch of baseball.