Alex Cora thinks this team is different, and he may have a point

So, why should Red Sox fans believe?

It's easy to jump into the good times over at Fenway Park these days. The water feels better than it has in years. Proof? Well, the Red Sox currently find themselves 11 games over .500 for the first time since June 26, 2022. That, however, was 73 games into the season. They have played 113 so far.

After sweeping the Astros, these Red Sox have now won 21 of 26 home games and are now on a streak of claiming seven of their last eight games. It has led them to a spot in the standings that is looking down on the Yankees (who are now 1 1/2 game in back of Boston), and just three games out of first place.

Remember, after their June 6 loss at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox were 10 1/2 games in back of New York.

Times have certainly changed. Now we await the next proof of life.

Something else that should be recalled is how the Red Sox won four of their first five games in August last year before being derailed by a four-game losing streak that included a sweep at the hands of the Astros. By the time Sept. 4 rolled around, Alex Cora's club was back to treading water at .500.

So, why should it be different? After his team's 6-1 win over the Astros, Cora was quick with an answer.

"We're much better than the last two years. We're healthier," said Cora. "We’ve got a complete team. Guys are playing with an edge now. You can tell. Like I said, this place is fun again."

During this resurgence, it's hard to ignore the evidence.

Using Life After Devers (June 16) as the jumping-off point, science would suggest the Red Sox - and some key elements of their roster - are for real. During that stretch, they are 25-15, with only three teams (Brewers, Marlins, Blue Jays) owning better records. Conversely, the Yankees are 18-24, and the other A.L. East contending team, the Rays, have gone just 16-26.

Sure, but what about the ability to line up with three starters who can go toe-to-toe in the postseason? Well, since that mid-June jumping off point the Red Sox are the only team with three starting pitchers (Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello) with ERAs of 2.84 or better.

The most recent reminder of this was Giolito's latest, which resulted in eight innings of one-run ball. He played his usual round of MLB The Show video game at 8 p.m. the night before, went to bed at midnight, woke up at 8 a.m., and threw his first pitch at 11:40 a.m.

Different routine. Same results.

"Coming in with confidence, knowing that we can win, it doesn't matter who the opponent is," said the starter, who has gone six innings or better in 11 of his 17 starts this season. "We have the talent and we have the ability. So, it's just about going out and playing hard and stacking up 'W's,' no matter who the opponent is."

Another huge part of the Red Sox's belief stems from how key elements of this lineup has emerged. Before June 16, there was an unknown. At this point, it feels like it is a known.

Romy Gonzalez (.923 OPS), Jarren Duran (.895), Trevor Story (.895), Roman Anthony (.892) and Ceddanne Rafaela (.873) have been revelations for the Red Sox throughout these last 40 games.

Perhaps the most striking of the bunch has been Anthony, who Cora dug in on early and often with the rookie rewarding the faith. The outfielder has now reached base in 35 of his last 38 games. Since he took over for Devers in the top of the Red Sox's lineup, only three players in baseball (Nick Kurtz, George Springer, Vlad Guerrero Jr.) have a better on-base percentage than Anthony.

There is another potential difference between what awaits this year's group compared to the last three Augusts (all of which have resulted in losing records): The schedule.

There are only three teams left in the Sox's final 49 games that have a better record than they do - the Astros (who are just 1/2-game better), the Blue Jays and the Tigers. And they don't play Toronto or Detroit until the final two series of the regular season.

"I always look at the seasons and I hate comparing ourselves to other teams, but the last two years that series (against Houston) put us in a bad spot," said Cora. "And it's a lot different right now."