The headline here is Boston's stretch under interim manager Chad Tracy, who took over after Alex Cora's firing and has the club playing like a completely different team. The Red Sox won 15 straight games before finally dropping the nightcap of a doubleheader against Baltimore, tying the 1946 club's franchise record along the way. That loss, plus a tie in the opener of that same doubleheader, is the only blemish on an otherwise dominant recent stretch — and it's the kind of run that's turned Fenway into a party every night.
Toronto's issues go beyond one bad week. The Jays are dealing with rotation attrition, having just placed Patrick Corbin on the IL with a teres major strain while Max Scherzer works his way back from injury, and their offense has been a season-long problem. A win over Tampa Bay to snap a 4-game skid is something, but this Boston lineup on a heater is a different animal entirely.
- 10-Day-ILJesus Sanchez (RF) — Sanchez (ankle) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on Thursday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/23
- 10-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — Clase (foot) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.07/22
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa (2B) — Sosa (wrist) resumed hitting in the batting cages earlier this week after experiencing a setback in his rehab program, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/17
- 15-Day-ILMax Scherzer (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated Thursday that Scherzer's (back/thumb) next start could be in the majors, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/23
- 15-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Corbin on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left teres major strain.07/23
- 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger (back/elbow) remains shut down from baseball activities, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/23
- 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.07/20
- 60-Day-ILAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander is still dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder and recently received another cortisone shot, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILJoe Mantiply (RP) — Mantiply will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair some damage in his left knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce underwent surgery Friday to repair the ACL in his right knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILIsiah Kiner-Falefa (2B) — Kiner-Falefa (forearm) has been cleared to start his hitting progression with dry swings, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/20
- 10-Day-ILMarcelo Mayer (2B) — Mayer (forearm) has been cleared to start his hitting progression with dry swings, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/20
- 15-Day-ILRanger Suarez (SP) — Interim manager Chad Tracy said that Suarez (groin/illness) won't be activated from the injured list to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.07/22
- 15-Day-ILConnelly Early (SP) — Early (elbow) threw off flat ground out to 120 feet Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.07/22
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (lat/shoulder) said Tuesday that he and the Red Sox training staff have no timeline in mind for when he'll be cleared to restart his throwing program, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.07/22
- 60-Day-ILZack Kelly (RP) — The Red Sox recalled Kelly (elbow) from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/21
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story (sports hernia) told reporters Monday that "sometime in August is in play" for him to embark on a rehab assignment, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/20
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has started throwing two bullpen sessions per week, MLB.com reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will throw a bullpen session next week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — Interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed Thursday that Anthony's (finger) recent follow-up appointment with Dr. Gary Lourie revealed no new information about his injury, and the outfielder will continue to rehab at the Red Sox's complex in Florida through at least the All-Star break, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.07/13
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — The Red Sox announced June 29 that Crawford (forearm) has been throwing plyometric balls during workouts at the team's spring training facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.07/06
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Saturday that Casas (abdomen/knee) has been shut down from hitting due to a wrist issue, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/06
Neither team is fully healthy, but the gap in complementary depth is stark. Boston's missing Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Triston Casas and is still finding a way to score — Toronto's missing key bats and arms and can't buy a run some nights. That disparity is the whole story of this series before a pitch is even thrown Friday at 7:15 PM ET.