What happened: The Boston Red Sox have won 11 straight games, a stretch that has pushed the club back to .500 for the first time since March 28, per Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale). Boston reached .500 for the first time since March 28 as the streak carried into this week's series with the Rays. Boston and Tampa Bay meet again today, with the Red Sox already up 2-0 in the series and the game yet to start.

Why it matters: Nightengale writes that if the playoffs started tomorrow, the Red Sox would hold the third American League Wild Card spot, a marked turnaround for a team that spent much of the season below .500. The 11-game run has come alongside a stretch of strong pitching, with Boston allowing 3.8 runs per game and scoring 4.1 during the surge, adding weight to the postseason case Nightengale is describing.

What to watch: The Red Sox and Rays play today with Boston leading the series 2-0; the game has not yet started, with Boston listed as a favorite and the total set at 9.5.