The Red Sox dropped both series, winning one game in each. They are currently 55-49 which places them tied with Seattle for the second wild card spot, 2 games back of the Yankees and 1.5 game ahead of the Rays. Quite frankly given their performance in these series, two wins was nothing short of miraculous. The 10-game winning streak is firmly in the rear-view mirror and the old problems of the first half of the season are back with us.
Offense
Batting Lines
Cubs series: .227 BA, 27 SO, .125 BA w/RISP
Phillies series: .178 BA, 44 SO, .167 BA w/RISP
The Red Sox hit very poorly in these two series including putrid numbers with runners in scoring position. Of the 19 runs they did score, 14 came from the home run. They struck out 71 times in six games, which is a mind-blowing number. It is nice to see them hitting the ball out of the ballpark again, but their plate approach is once again swing from the heels. The hottest hitters of the last 18 games before the break have regressed to the mean, including Gonzalez (.294 OPS since the break), Story (.426), Yoshida (.438), Rafaela (.553), and Bregman (.579).
Pitching
Pitching Lines
Cubs series
Starters: 17.1 IP, 19 H, 8 ER, 15 SO, 4.15 ERA
Bullpen: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 SO, 3.52 ERA
Phillies series
Starters: 14.1 IP, 18 H, 10 ER, 10 SO, 6.28 ERA
Bullpen: 13.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 13 SO, 0.66 ERA
Lucas Giolito started 2 games. He had just come off a great stretch of a 0.70 ERA during his last 6 starts before the break. In his 2 starts against the Cubs and Phillies his pitching line was 9.1 IP, 11 H, 9 ER, 8 SO, 8.68 ERA. He was one of the starters we thought we could count on, but we may need to rethink that. Bello, Crochet, and Buehler all turned in quality starts but Fitts was knocked around for 4 runs in 3.1 innings. The bullpen was generally good, allowing only 1 earned run in the Phillies series. Given all of that, I don't think you can blame the pitching for these series losses.
A Few Words on Catcher's Interference
Carlos Narvaez committed two instances of CI during the Phillies series. The first one cost them the game and was only the second instance of walk off catcher's interference ever. He has committed CI 6 times this year. Don't you think this would be something that he could be taught not to do? What is Jason Varitek's role with the Red Sox? Does any of it include coaching the catchers? At any rate, this is just another example of the Red Sox failing to teach the fundamentals. Defense, baserunning, and plate approach with RISP are correctable things but apparently Alex Cora isn't interested.
The Good News
I know, I've heard all the excuses. The Cubs are one of the best teams in the majors. The Phillies have the best pitching staff. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda. The bottom line is the Red Sox are not good enough to compete with good teams. Is this the good news? No, here's the good news: the American League sucks. There are only 3 teams chasing the Red Sox with winnings records, the Rays, Rangers, and Guardians. Those teams are really no damn good. Honestly, the Mariners and Yankees really aren't that good either. The division leaders (Astros, Blue Jays, Tigers) are the class of the AL. The Red Sox just need to keep their heads above water, and they will find themselves with a wild card spot come playoff time.
Can they run with the bulls? Tampa, Cubs, Phil's, and now Dodgers. That is 13 games and they have won six. Just another win will put you over .500. Toss in the Yankees and you have your answer.