Does this team have what it takes to get to the postseason?

It looked like this season may have been another tough watch for Red Sox fans. With the trading of Rafeal Devers and on-field inconsistency, it seemed that we were in full rebuild mode. However, Boston’s young stars of tomorrow have flipped that narrative, as Boston, off a ten-game winning streak, tied the New York Yankees going into the All-Star Break. The question is: has it just been a bit of summer luck, or are these kids the real deal?

Although not postseason contenders lately, the Red Sox have had the Yankees' number over the past two seasons; they lead the matchups 15-11, with their last battle resulting in the Red Sox sweeping New York at Fenway. The reason this rivalry has been fueled recently is because: BOSTON IS SUPPOSED TO LOSE! The Yankees roster features “superstar” Aaron Judge and his cast of power-hitting pals, and yet this rebuilding Red Sox team seems to own them? New York is no stranger to choking in big games, but for all the money put into their team recently, the pressure is on for them to compete with Boston during the second half of the season. This next half will be the true test for the Red Sox: are they good enough to make a postseason run? Only time will tell.

As of now, the combo of Garret Crochet and Aroldis Chapman has been deadly to other teams’ hitters. Boston’s bullpen (with a few minor hiccups) has been worlds better than we’ve seen in recent years. This is where New York has struggled, and it’s part of why Boston could end up edging ahead of them in the standings. With injuries and inconsistencies, Yankee pitching needs some serious work, all the more reason to put a little faith into this Red Sox team. Additionally, the hole Soto left in the Yankees organization when he shocked fans and teammates by signing with the Mets this offseason has done more than damage morale. Soto and Judge hitting back-to-back could’ve been elite for years in New York, almost David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez-esque, and with that all thrown out the window by Soto for a few extra bucks, it’s no wonder the Yankees aren’t living up to their potential.

With the trade deadline approaching, the question for Boston and every other team in the league is “what’s the move?”. Should the Red Sox organization target a big-name player to add to the roster in hopes of playing in October, or will they hold off and ride with the young future of Boston? Both have risks involved, and both are sure to stir up controversy no matter what.

At the end of the day, all I can do is speculate; nothing is decided yet, and Toronto still leads the American League East. Boston has arguably the toughest schedule of any team in the league during this second-half push, so in the coming weeks, this young team will be tested. A ten-game win streak is great, but if you can’t beat the best teams, then you can’t win the World Series, regardless. This team’s momentum is very real; we just have to hope it carries them into the postseason. After all, if we aren’t trying to play in October, then what’s the point?

Christopher Smith is a graduate of Littleton High School and will be attending the University of Missouri in the fall to study journalism.

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