Red Sox Are Only 1.5 Games Out Of Playoff Picture

Boston Red Sox pitcher Greg Weissert

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Many Boston Red Sox fans could not have imagined a worse-feeling start to the 2026 Major League Baseball season than they received.

However, since May began, the Red Sox have quietly been clawing their way back into the American League standings.

As of May 7, Boston is riding the high of its first series sweep of the season after beating the Detroit Tigers three consecutive times in the Motor City.

The sweep put them only 1.5 games out of the AL's Wild Card race, tied with the reigning Pennant-winning Toronto Blue Jays.

Additionally, the Red Sox run differential is the second-best of the nine teams in the hunt.

They are the closest they have been to .500 since the disastrous home series against the New York Yankees began on April 21.

Interim manager Chad Tracy has improved his record to 6-4 in his first ten games in the big leagues. He returns home on Thursday night for his first home stand in Boston.

The Red Sox will host a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, then they will have a day off before a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

More MLB: MLB Writer Predicts Red Sox Make Playoffs, Says Team's 'Already Turned A Corner'