Article: Red Sox Road Trip No. 12: Divisional Gauntlet

[Steve Trefz]

As August closes, the Red Sox make a rare two-city, eight-game road trip. As if eight road games in eight days weren’t bad enough, the journey takes them through Yankee Stadium and Oriole Park.

New York Yankees - August 21-24
Yankee Stadium - Capacity 46,537
2024 Attendance: 3,309,838 (Averaged 41,896, first in AL, 2nd overall)

Road trip number six in early June only involved the Yankees. This time, the Sox must square off four straight days in the heat of August, and then travel on to face another playoff contender. How this series goes, in terms of rotation usage and bullpen health, will go a long way toward setting up the Sox for success in Baltimore. If the Red Sox get some length from their starters, they'll be set up for success against the Orioles. If they don't, the patient, powerful Baltimore lineup could expose their bullpen. Every game matters, but managing for the bigger picture on this grueling trip will also be important, as Boston leaves one enemy to face another.

Baltimore Orioles - August 25-28
Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Capacity 44,970
2024 Attendance: 2,281,129 (Averaged 28,514, eighth in AL, 19th overall)

The first road trip of the season takes the Red Sox through Baltimore, so it's fitting that takes nearly a full season to return. Odds are that the two teams' fates will have diverged by the time the end of August rolls around. Will Eutaw Street be full of Oriole fans dreaming of the playoffs, or talking about next year? Whoever is left standing will have to make a stand when this series takes place. 

From here, the Sox head home to host the Pirates and Guardians. No rest for contenders in September. Do you think the Sox will be the ones contending?

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