Red Sox rebound into playoff hunt after Alex Cora's midseason warning

Boston’s baseball club has surged back into the American League race after a 10-game losing streak and the dismissal of manager Alex Cora, who later texted a confidence-boosting prediction.

Entering the 2026 season with high expectations, the Boston Red Sox stumbled to a 10-17 start, leading to the surprising dismissal of former World Series champion Alex Cora and members of his staff. Chad Tracy was promoted from Triple-A Worcester to serve as interim manager, and the club responded by winning 15 consecutive games, sweeping series against the Nationals, Angels, White Sox and Mets. On June 30, Cora texted the team with a “get hot for 10 days” challenge, predicting a window that would bring the club close to a.500 record.

The Red Sox now sit third in the AL East, seven games behind the Rays, and hold the second wild-card position as the trade deadline looms. Despite his departure, Cora expressed no hard feelings and turned down a Phillies job, with expectations of returning to a major-league role next year. The team’s resurgence has reignited its playoff aspirations after a bleak start.