The Boston Red Sox have successfully extended their winning streak to five games, thanks in part to the stellar performance of Brayan Bello, who dominated the Colorado Rockies. As the team looks to maintain this momentum, they are set to welcome back outfielder Masataka Yoshida from the injured list, a significant boost to their lineup.
Yoshida has officially been activated and is slated to start as the designated hitter against the Rockies. His return comes after a lengthy recovery from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the first 93 games of the season, following his transition to the 60-day injured list in May.
Last season, Yoshida showcased his potential by hitting .260 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs over 108 games. However, he faced challenges this year following surgery on his right labrum. Following a successful rehab assignment with the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, Yoshida is now ready to rejoin a team that has been on a roll, winning seven of their last eight games.
Manager Alex Cora confirmed Yoshida’s return, during which he also mentioned that Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman is nearing his comeback. The Red Sox are not just excited about Yoshida’s arrival; they have been incandescent in July, looking to sweep their second consecutive series after previously defeating the Washington Nationals.
With a strong performance against the Rockies in which they outscored their opponents 46-14 during the winning streak, the team has transformed from three games under .500 to now sitting three games above it. Currently, the Red Sox trail the first-place Toronto Blue Jays by 6.5 games in the competitive AL East.
As they aim for a sixth straight victory on Wednesday with Lucas Giolito on the mound, the excitement around Yoshida’s return signifies a promising shift for the Red Sox as they look to sustain their winning streak and improve their standing in the division.