The Boston Red Sox ride into the unofficial second half of the season with plenty of momentum.
The team sits 11 games over .500 and started July at a 9-3 clip. Durable starting pitching, an athletic-based offense and tremendous managerial guidance from Alex Cora put Boston in tremendous position to compete right in the thick of the playoff race in the American League.
The second half has plenty of intrigue, high-caliber competition and plenty of valuable experience for a young core ready to play meaningful games late into the season.
With plenty of reasons to watch, here’s four second-half predictions for the 2024 Red Sox.
RAFAEL DEVERS SURPASSES 40 HOME RUNS
The franchise player in Boston hit his best-career total with 38 home runs in 2021. Lately, Devers flipped a switch and heated up before the break.
The Red Sox third baseman is on pace for his best offensive season so far with a .977 OPS. Devers crushed 23 home runs before the break and homered in six consecutive games back in May. When he gets into a rhythm, which he already has this season, there’s no reason why Devers can’t surpass 40 long balls for the first time in his career.
RED SOX OVERTAKE YANKEES IN STANDINGS
When the Yankees visited the Red Sox in June for their first meeting of the year, the Yankees were in the middle of a hot start to the season and battling with the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the American League.
Since that series, Boston has made up 10 1/2 games and now sits just 3 1/2 games behind New York in the standings. All three mentioned teams currently hold playoff spots and the teams should be in a battle down the stretch.
New York has faltered and Boston’s young core makes them projectable down the stretch. With reinforcements such as Triston Casas looming, the Red Sox are more than capable of jumping their rivals.
LIAM HENDRIKS ASSUMES EIGTH-INNING ROLE
Boston has another potential addition to make down the stretch as a dominant reliever should have a chance to return from injury.
The Red Sox signed Liam Hendriks this offseason after the righty underwent Tommy John surgery late last season. His throwing progressed in recent weeks and the three-time All-Star appears motivated to take the mound competitively in 2024.
Should Hendriks return to form, Boston earns a tremendous late-inning reliever that flirted with 40-save seasons in 2021 and 2022.
BOSTON MAKES POSTSEASON
After a two-year absence, the Red Sox will return to the postseason on the wave of quality starting pitching and the dynamic skills of their young lineup.
