Where Red Sox’s Playoff Odds Stand At All-Star Break Amid Hot Streak

The Boston Red Sox have plenty of reasons to feel good entering the All-Star break.

Boston closed the unofficial first half on fire, winning 10 consecutive games before the All-Star intermission. The Red Sox now hold the American League’s second of three wild-card spots, leading the Tampa Bay Rays by 1.5 games after a four-game sweep.

As a result, the Red Sox are no longer long shots to play meaningful baseball in October.

FanDuel lists the Red Sox at -140 to make the postseason and +114 to fall short. Bettors looking to back Boston can receive more value elsewhere, as they’re -115 to make the playoffs on DraftKings.

Either line implies that the Red Sox are now more likely than not to survive the 162-game regular season. FanGraphs concurs, giving them a 55.7 percent probability of reaching the playoffs.

Capturing their first American League East title since 2018 will be a tougher task, as the Red Sox still trail the Toronto Blue Jays by three games and the New York Yankees by one. Boston is +600 to win the division on FanDuel and +650 on DraftKings, with FanGraphs giving them an 11.1 percent chance.

The last two weeks have represented a resounding turnaround for the Red Sox, who fell to 40-43 with their sixth straight loss on June 27. They have since won 13 of 15 games, scoring double-digit runs six times.

Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story have snapped out of prolonged slumps to deliver elite production. Ceddanne Rafaela is playing like an All-Star without the accompanying recognition, and rookie Roman Anthony has already flaunted superstar potential.

The Red Sox will hope the All-Star break doesn’t mess with their rhythm when they return to face the Chicago Cubs on Friday.