What happened: The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Mets 3-2 to extend their series lead to 3-0. Both clubs battled identical organizational and on-field issues earlier in the year, but New York failed to demonstrate any progress toward overcoming those obstacles heading into the break, according to Joel Sherman.
Why it matters: Boston's turnaround has propelled the club into the wild-card race after sitting in last place in the AL East on July 2. Conversely, New York holds a 36-51 record and has dropped consecutive contests while allowing 4.8 runs per game. The divergence highlights critical front-office decisions awaiting both franchises ahead of the trade deadline.
By the numbers: Boston shut out New York 4-0 on July 11 and posted a 6-2 victory on July 10 in previous series meetings. For the year, the Red Sox average 4.0 runs scored and 3.9 allowed per contest, whereas the Mets average 4.1 runs scored and 4.8 allowed.
What to watch: Front offices for both clubs will evaluate potential bullpen and roster adjustments during the All-Star break ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.