Red Sox Slide In Power Rankings Ahead Of Yankees Showdown
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are heading in opposite directions ahead of their four-game series this weekend in the Bronx.
The Red Sox have lost three straight while the Yankees enjoy a five-game winning streak. As a result, New York leapfrogged Boston both in the American League Wild Card standings and ESPN’s MLB Power Rankings.
Heading into play Thursday, the Red Sox are No. 11 in the rankings, down one spot from No. 10.
“The Red Sox had won 16 of 18 games at Fenway Park before dropping three straight to the Marlins and Orioles to close their recent homestand. Overall, Boston is 41-25 at home — with 10 walk-off wins — and 27-34 on the road,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote Thursday.
“The club’s surge into the postseason picture since the end of June has been fueled by its play at home in front of an invigorated fan base that has quickly forgotten about the franchise’s surprising decision to trade Rafael Devers in mid-June.
“The emergence of 21-year-old Roman Anthony has helped,” Castillo added. “But an eight-game road trip to New York and Baltimore awaits, and the Red Sox will need to play better away from Fenway to hold on to a wild-card spot.”
On the flip side, the Yankees moved up from No. 12 to No. 8.
The Toronto Blue Jays, who sit atop the AL East, came in at No. 5, down from No. 3 last week.
The red-hot Milwaukee Brewers ranked No. 1 overall, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers.