The Boston Red Sox, having surged from a dismal June to become one of baseball's hottest teams, are set to face the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Boston's improbable 28-5 record since late June has propelled them into postseason contention, highlighted by a recent series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This stretch includes multiple winning streaks of five or more games. The Red Sox made a significant acquisition at the trade deadline, bringing in catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. Prior to this surge, Boston was 32-46 on June 24. The team's recent performance has tied a franchise record for consecutive wins.
On the mound for the Red Sox on Tuesday will be Patrick Sandoval, who has made four starts this season with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He allowed just one earned run on five hits in his first outing against the White Sox earlier in the season.
The Chicago White Sox currently lead the AL Central, though their position is not as secure as it might seem. Last season, the Detroit Tigers held a similar lead at the start of August before the Cleveland Guardians rallied to win the division. With the expanded Wild Card format, securing the division title remains the most direct path to the postseason for Chicago.
The White Sox bolstered their rotation with additions at the trade deadline, aiming to provide more stability. Davis Martin is expected to start for Chicago, carrying a 9-5 record with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. However, Martin struggled in July, allowing 16 earned runs in 24 innings over five starts, with the White Sox losing four of those games. One of his recent starts was against the Red Sox, where he conceded five earned runs in four innings.
Both teams have made efforts to enhance their rosters ahead of the trade deadline, intensifying the competition as the playoff race heats up. The current momentum suggests favoring the hotter team, the Red Sox, in the upcoming matchup against a White Sox team whose starting pitcher has shown recent signs of fatigue.