The Boston Red Sox enter Wednesday as the last place team in the American League East division.
It's a little hard to fathom after last year's success and the team's excellent 20-6 record in June when it looked like the tide had turned.
July has been a disaster for the Red Sox. There's no other way to describe it.
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After losing 8-3 to the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, the Red Sox own a record of 6-16 this month with 156 runs allowed (7.09 per game). They are 1-4 after the All-Star break.
Tomase: Are Red Sox buyers or sellers? Execs share mixed impressions
Boston's nosedive, combined with the Baltimore Orioles winning 14 of their first 20 games in July, has resulted in the Red Sox sitting at the bottom of the division. The Orioles (49-48) are a half game ahead of the Sox (49-49).
Despite the Red Sox' poor play of late, they are still within striking distance of a wild card spot in the AL. Boston sits 3.5 games behind the third and final wild card berth, which doesn't sound like a lot. The issue for the Red Sox is there are six teams ahead of them in the wild card standings. That's a lot of competition for three spots.
Boston Red Sox
It'll be fascinating to see how the Red Sox approach the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
You could make strong arguments for the Red Sox to be buyers or sellers. Based on recent comments from team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, it sounds like the Red Sox still want to reach the postseason.
If the Red Sox become sellers, it's possible they could finish last in the AL East for the fifth time in the last 11 years. They had zero last-place finishes from 1993 through 2011.