Historic Red Sox Turnaround
Red Sox clinch wild-card berth after completing a historic regular-season turnaround.
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Key Points
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Boston’s 31-44 record after 75 games was the worst start by any team in MLB history to eventually reach the playoffs, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
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The Red Sox were 32-46 and 15½ games behind in the AL East on June 24 before going 52-25, and they became the first team to finish above .500 after losing at least 46 of its first 78 games.
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Interim manager Chad Tracy learned of his appointment in an unusually secretive call while managing Worcester; chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told him that Alex Cora and five other coaches had been fired, with Tracy taking over the next day in Baltimore.
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Craig Breslow said the organization’s decisive moves were intended to create a supportive environment for the players, adding that the team ultimately answered doubts about its potential “resoundingly.”
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Boston is currently the No. 5 seed and is most likely to begin with a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, a rematch of the previous year’s series that New York won in three games.
The Boston Red Sox clinched their second straight American League wild-card berth after Atlanta beat Houston 4-2 on September 27, even though Boston lost to Tampa Bay 5-1. The Red Sox capped an astonishing turnaround from 31-44 to 84-72, a record that MLB Research says is the worst start by any playoff team in baseball history.
Boston was 15½ games behind in the AL East on June 24 with a 32-46 record. The team then went 52-25 the rest of the way, becoming the first squad to finish above .500 after losing at least 46 of its first 78 games. Interim manager Chad Tracy guided much of this revival after Alex Cora's midseason dismissal.
From Worst Start to Postseason Bound
The Red Sox's path to the playoffs looked impossible in late June. They had lost 46 games in their first 78 contests—the worst pace for any team that would eventually reach October, MLB Research found. Yet Boston responded with a stunning 30-5 stretch and a 52-25 run over the final 87 games of the season.
The turnaround came despite major obstacles. The team fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches midseason. Key players dealt with injuries. But Craig Breslow, Boston's chief baseball officer, said the decisive moves created a supportive environment. The organization answered doubts about its potential "resoundingly," Breslow noted.
Chad Tracy Takes Over in a Secretive Call
Chad Tracy learned he would become interim manager in an unusual way. While managing the Worcester team, Breslow called him with shocking news: Alex Cora and five coaches had been fired, and Tracy would take over the next day in Baltimore. No warning. No preparation.
Tracy responded by guiding the Red Sox through their historic comeback. The team went from basement dweller to playoff contender under his watch. Players rallied around the new leadership, helping Boston stay above .500 and secure postseason baseball.
Reinforcements Arrive to Bolster Playoff Push
Boston also added proven talent down the stretch. The Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman and welcomed back key players Roman Anthony and Trevor Story. These moves strengthened the roster heading into the playoffs.
As the No. 5 seed, Boston will likely face the Yankees in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting September 29 at Yankee Stadium. The teams met in last year's wild-card matchup, with New York winning in three games. This time, the Red Sox arrive as a completely different team.
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