Boston Red Sox have a chance to draw even in AL East tonight

Jun 10, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) (left), right fielder Mookie Betts (50) and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) celebrate after their 11-3 win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) (left), right fielder Mookie Betts (50) and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) celebrate after their 11-3 win over the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

If your Facebook feed is anything like mine you see how every Boston Red Sox fan thinks the sky is falling but after tonight they may be atop the AL East.

Check your Facebook or Twitter right now. I guarantee there is someone complaining about the Boston Red Sox. They shouldn’t be though.

It may feel like the team has underperformed, and at times they have but for the most part, they’re right on track. Even with all of the injuries and setbacks the Red Sox have dealt with, they’re right in the middle of the AL East race. No one expected the New York Yankees to be as good as they are this year, but they are. Boston isn’t going to run away with the division title but they will have a chance to win it.

As it stands before Saturday’s slate of MLB games, the Boston Red Sox are just 1 game behind the Yankees in the AL East. The Red Sox have won 6 of their last 8 contests, while the Yankees have dropped four straight.

Boston is actually third overall in the entire American League. The Houston Astros lead the league with 45 wins. The Red Sox took down Houston last night, and if they do tonight they could find themselves atop the AL East.

More from Boston Red Sox

New York plays at Oakland today at 4:05 PM and that game should conclude before Boston and Houston square off at 8:15 PM on FOX. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound, and he’s struggled mightily all season long. Tanka is 5-6 with a 6.07 ERA. Oakland will have a good chance to take down New York here.

The Red Sox may have pitching issues of their own though, as Rick Porcello will get the start. The righty is 3-8 with a 4.67 ERA. In his last start against the Phillies, he gave up 5 runs on 10 hits through six innings. Houston isn’t sending an ace to the mound though. David Paulino will make his fourth start of the season for the Astros. He’s allowed 10 runs on 19 hits through 13.2 innings. Paulino has also given up at least one home run in each start.

Boston can shut down a lot of haters and bashers if they can climb to the top of the AL East tonight. I sure hope they do.

Next: Give Mookie Betts your All-Star Game vote

If the Yankeed lose and the Red Sox win, things are all knotted up in the middle of June for the AL East. The division title race is officially on!