They will be at Yankee Stadium this coming Friday, in Arlington facing the Rangers a week after, and taking on the Rays at The Trop on the month’s final Friday.
Each of these teams currently has a better record than the Boston and has won the season series against the Sox thus far. If Boston is to make a playoff run, these are the teams that the Sox will need to beat.
The trip to Yankee Stadium isn’t just an ordinary series. It is a four-game set. With the Yankees’ acquisitions of Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood, the team has only grown deeper, and they currently hold the best record in baseball. The Sox are 3-5 against their rivals so far this year, losing four out of six at Fenway and splitting two in the Bronx.
The Rangers recently came to Boston directly after the All-Star break and took three out of four. With Cliff Lee on the staff, the Rangers look like they are going to end their history of meltdowns. Their eight-game lead in the AL West is by far the league’s largest, and it has only been growing.
Tampa Bay has been Boston’s biggest problem this year, both in terms of playoff races and head-to-head matchups. Against the Rays, the Sox are 4-8, their worst record against any foe. This will be the Sox’ last trip to Tampa before getting one more crack at the league’s second best team at home in September.
So, which series will be the toughest? For the Yankees, text “SOX1” to 542542. If you think it’s the Rangers, text “SOX2” to 542542. Or if you believe it is the Rays, text “SOX3” to 542542.
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