The Boston Red Sox have won 12 straight games, their longest winning streak since 2006, and the run has flipped their postseason outlook. FanGraphs had Boston at just 13.4% to make the playoffs before the streak began; that number now sits above 50%.
What happened
Boston has reeled off 12 consecutive victories, the club's longest streak in nearly two decades. The run has been enough to reshuffle the American League playoff picture in the Red Sox's favor.
Why it matters
The turnaround is a sharp reversal for a team that was recently positioned as sellers after sliding to the AL East basement in June. A club bracing for a summer sell-off is now above a coin flip to reach October.
Swinging the postseason math by nearly 40 points in the span of one streak signals that Boston's front office may be reconsidering its deadline posture. A team drawing up sell plans a month ago now has a real case to buy.
By the numbers
FanGraphs postseason probability: 13.4% before the streak, more than 50% now. Streak length: 12 games, Boston's longest since 2006.
What to watch next
Boston's deadline calculus, already trending toward buying rather than selling, is due to firm up ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.