The Boston Red Sox have ignited the American League East race, surging past expectations as they completed a pivotal sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and kept the pressure firmly on division leaders, the Toronto Blue Jays. With just over a month left in the MLB regular season, the Red Sox’s recent run has not only reshaped the Wild Card chase but also injected new drama into a division many thought the Blue Jays had under lock and key.
Thursday night at Camden Yards, the Red Sox clinched a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Orioles, sealing a three-game sweep and pushing themselves to 15 games above .500 for the first time since their memorable 2021 campaign. Their current record stands at 75-60, just 3.5 games back of the Blue Jays, who sit atop the AL East with a 78-56 tally. The New York Yankees, not to be forgotten, trail the Blue Jays by 4.5 games and remain in the thick of the hunt as well.
Boston’s resurgence comes on the heels of a challenging few seasons. Since their 2021 postseason run, which ended in a six-game ALCS loss to the Houston Astros, the Red Sox have endured middling results—finishing 78-84 in both 2022 and 2023, and a balanced 81-81 in 2024. But this year, something’s clicked. Since the All-Star break, the Red Sox have posted a 32-25 record in the second half, and their recent six-wins-in-seven-games stretch has given fans hope that this squad could be poised for another deep October push.
So, what’s fueling this late-season surge? Look no further than the mound, where Boston’s pitching staff has been nothing short of sensational. Since late June, the staff has combined for a sparkling 3.08 ERA, a testament to both offseason acquisitions and homegrown talent. Garrett Crochet, in particular, has emerged as a bona fide AL Cy Young Award contender. The 26-year-old lefty boasts a 2.38 ERA—good for top three in the league—a 2.58 FIP (second in the majors), and an eye-popping 207 strikeouts. Crochet has been a workhorse, logging 166 innings and accumulating a 5.4 WAR, second among all MLB pitchers this season. His consistency has given the Red Sox a true ace to lean on, especially in high-stakes divisional matchups.
"Much of our recent success has come from our pitching, offseason moves, and the rise of Garrett Crochet," noted one analyst, echoing the prevailing sentiment around Fenway Park. The Red Sox’s bullpen has also been a revelation in the second half, ranking among the best in baseball and shutting down opposing offenses late in games. Offseason additions like Alex Bregman, Walker Buehler, and Aroldis Chapman have slotted in seamlessly, providing both stability and star power. Bregman, returning from injury, and rookie Roman Anthony have injected much-needed consistency into an offense that, while sometimes streaky, has proven capable of delivering in clutch moments.
The sweep over Baltimore was emblematic of Boston’s newfound resilience. The Orioles, who had reached the playoffs in the previous two seasons, have struggled mightily in 2025. They entered the series with a 60-73 record, languishing 17.5 games behind the division leaders and desperate to halt a three-game home skid. Baltimore’s struggles were compounded by the performance of their starter, Cade Povich, who has endured a rough campaign with a 5.13 ERA and a 2-7 record. His control issues persisted against Boston, as he allowed eight walks over his last three outings and was tagged for six runs in less than five innings in his previous start against Houston. Against a patient Red Sox lineup—ranked 10th in the majors for bases on balls—Povich’s woes only deepened.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox’s patient approach at the plate paid dividends, as they capitalized on Povich’s wildness and forced the Orioles’ bullpen into action early. The highlight of the series came on Wednesday, when Ceddanne Rafael launched a dramatic ninth-inning home run to secure a 3-2 win. Manager Alex Cora was quick to credit his staff, noting, "That was a moment in which our bench coach Ramon Vazquez made a key call." It’s these small, savvy decisions—combined with timely hitting and dominant pitching—that have fueled Boston’s late-summer surge.
Despite the Orioles’ disappointing season, the AL East remains a cauldron of competition. The Blue Jays, while still holding the upper hand, have shown signs of vulnerability—going 5-5 in their last 10 games and 15-14 since late July. Their offense remains potent, and their rotation, bolstered by the return of Shane Bieber, looks solid. However, Toronto’s bullpen has faltered in the second half, and their remaining schedule is daunting, featuring the fifth-toughest slate in the majors. Key series against the Rays and Orioles loom, and the Blue Jays will face both the Yankees and Red Sox in critical head-to-head matchups down the stretch.
The Yankees, for their part, have found their groove offensively, leading MLB with 74 second-half home runs. Giancarlo Stanton has been on a tear, and the rotation has stabilized thanks to contributions from Cam Schlitter and the veteran trio of Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil. However, bullpen inconsistency remains a concern, even after deadline reinforcements. The Yankees do have the easiest remaining schedule among the three contenders, with seven games each against the White Sox and Orioles, and a favorable stretch following their final series against Boston in mid-September.
As for the Red Sox, their path to the division crown is challenging but not insurmountable. They’ll benefit from a balanced schedule, including six games against the Oakland Athletics and a potentially decisive three-game set against the Blue Jays in the season’s final week. While FanDuel odds currently give the Blue Jays a 73.4% chance to win the division (compared to the Red Sox’s 12.4% and the Yankees’ 14.2%), the momentum in Boston’s corner can’t be ignored. SportsLine projections have the Blue Jays finishing with 93 wins, the Yankees with 90, and the Red Sox with 89—but with the way things are trending, the race could tighten even further.
With the Red Sox now leading the Wild Card chase by 2.5 games over the Yankees and their playoff probability hovering between 64% and 94%, the stakes are sky-high. The next few weeks promise high drama, with each game potentially swinging the fortunes of three storied franchises. The head-to-head matchups—Yankees vs. Red Sox (Sept. 12-14) and Blue Jays vs. Red Sox (Sept. 23-25)—are already circled on every fan’s calendar.
There’s no denying it: the AL East is far from settled. The Red Sox, once left for dead, are now very much alive and kicking. With pitching leading the way and a hungry, opportunistic lineup, Boston is poised to make things interesting all the way to the final out of the regular season.
