Following outfielder Jarren Duran’s MVP performance at the 2024 All-Star Game in Arlington Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox prepare for the second half of the season in the thick of the Wild Card race.
The Sox head into the back half of the season holding the third American League Wild Card spot, back only 4.5 games in the AL East and a season-high 11 games over .500, their highest watermark since June 26, 2022.
Widely projected as a .500 team at best, the Red Sox came into the season with as little buzz as any team in recent franchise history. Coming off back-to-back last-place finishes, fans were largely disappointed by the club’s lack of meaningful offseason activity, and that disillusionment has been reflected in the club’s underwhelming attendance figures.
Since losing their June 11 series opener to Philadelphia and falling to 33-34 on the season, the Red Sox have gone 20-8. While they’ve surged their competitors have faltered, with the New York Yankees going 10-19, the Baltimore Orioles 14-16, the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians 15-15 and the Royals, currently one of Boston’s chief playoff rivals, just 13-16.
Here is the best from the first half of the Red Sox 2024 campaign.
Boston, MA - Boston Red Sox's Dominic Smith celebrates his two run home run during the 2nd inning of the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers reacts after doubling during the 3rd inning of the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - Boston Red Sox second baseman David Hamilton bobbles the ball during the 3rd inning of the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
American League's Jarren Duran, of the Boston Red Sox, flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning during the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Boston, MA -Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran get high fives in the dugout after Devers’ two run homer during the 1st inning of the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - Red Sox All-Stars, Rafael Devers, Tanner Houck and Jarren Duran are introduced before the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford walks to the dug out after pitching during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Ceddanne Rafaela #43 of the Boston Red Sox misses Max Schuemann #12 of the Oakland Athletics single during the third inning of the MLB game at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, front right, leaves the mound as manager Alex Cora, center, gestures to the bullpen during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, July 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello delivers during the first inning of a game against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Boston Red Sox first base Dominic Smith (2) makes his major league debut as a pitcher in the 9th inning as the Sox take on the Padres at Fenway on June 29. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16) makes the sliding catch on a drive by San Diego Padres third base Donovan Solano (39) in the third as the Sox take on the Padres at Fenway on June 29. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Podcaster, Alex Cooper reacts after throwing out the first pitch before the MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Kutter Crawford #50 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after his walk-off RBI single beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston Celtics Derrick White holds up the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy during the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Ceddanne Rafaela #43 of the Boston Red Sox screams out after tagging out Toronto Blue Jays Steward Berroa during the ninth inning of the MLB game at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox gets dunked with water after his walk-off RBI single beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - June 4, 2024: Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford throws against the Braves during their game at Fenway park. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers celebrates his solo home run with Garrett Cooper during the 8th inning of the game at Fenway Park. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Red Sox Hall of Fame Trot Nixon acknowledges the crowd before the game at Fenway Park. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela (43) holds up the catch of Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) as the Sox take on the Brewers at Fenway on May 24. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu (52) signals he’s ok, after hitting the wall on a HR by Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (15) in the third as the Red Sox take on the Rays at Fenway on May 16. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates after his two-run home run during the seventh inning of Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck gets doused with water after throwing a complete game to beat the Cleveland Guardians, 2-0, at Fenway Park. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox's Pablo Reyes throws to first base on the ground out by Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches Austin Hays #21 of the Baltimore Orioles during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Boston, MA - April 8: Former Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez gets interviewed at the Foundation To Be Named Later’s (FTBNL) 2004 Red Sox Championship Reunion Roundtable Lunch at Hotel Commonwelath. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)
Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill, left, greets Enmanuel Valdez (47) after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Brennan Bernardino #83 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
