The Red Sox kept the Yankees at bay in a 6-3 series opener, pushing their season-slate edge over New York to 1-6 and shrinking the top AL Wild Card lead for the Yankees to a half game. Boston exploited four Yankees errors and a costly balk for four unearned runs as Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida paced the offense, while Nathaniel Lowe collected the go-ahead hit in the seventh after joining Boston last weekend. Roman Anthony supplied a late spark with a two-run shot in his Yankee Stadium debut, capping a 2-for-5 night with three RBI.

New York got a rare homer from Ben Rice and bullpen hiccups that allowed late Sox scoring, despite Alex Bregman’s 3-for-5 night with a walk in his first Red Sox-Yankees rivalry appearance. Luis Gil endured a shaky five-inning stint (two runs, one earned, five walks) after missing the season’s first months with a lat injury, while Brayan Bello is on deck to face the Yankees in Friday’s game as the four-game set continues. The Wild Card dynamics remain tight, with Seattle and Kansas City breathing down, while the Yankees will try to rebound behind a Fried-Bello showdown on Friday.

Rafael Devers broke a lengthy slump with a spectacular performance, including a three-run homer and four RBIs, propelling the San Francisco Giants to a commanding 12-4 victory over the New York Mets. This win marked a significant turnaround for the Giants, who had just endured a six-game skid.

Rookie pitcher Carson Whisenhunt notched his first major league victory, pitching effectively over 5⅓ innings. The Mets, who recently held the top spot in the NL East, have now faltered, losing five of their last six games. Devers' three-run shot was a highlight, coming during a four-run third inning, while Dominic Smith also contributed significantly with a two-run single.

The Boston Red Sox have executed a significant trade ahead of the July 31 deadline, sending Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, along with minor-league prospects. As they hold onto the final wild card spot in the AL, they face competition from several teams within striking distance, including the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers. To improve their chances, adding major-league-ready talent could mean parting with some top minor-league prospects.

MLB insider Jim Callis noted that while the Red Sox boast a wealth of position-player talent, they might have to offer some prospects, such as Franklin Arias and Jhostynxon Garcia, to teams in rebuilding phases. The Red Sox are less likely to trade coveted pitching prospects like Payton Tolle and Brandon Clarke, which could impact their long-term strategy, but focusing on current needs might be essential for making a playoff run.

The Boston Red Sox have demonstrated resilience in their quest for postseason contention, managing to secure the third Wild Card spot in the AL despite trading away their star player, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. Devers was a standout performer before his departure, boasting a .272 batting average with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs this season. However, the Red Sox have relied on contributions from players like Jarren Duran, Trevor Story, and Alex Bregman to maintain their offensive edge.

With the team facing potential injury setbacks, particularly with rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer possibly requiring surgery for wrist discomfort, manager Alex Cora has indicated that Ceddanne Rafaela will assume more duties at second base. This comes at a crucial time as the team prepares for a significant matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Brayan Bello set to take the mound against Emmet Sheehan.

Rafael Devers is set to play first base for the San Francisco Giants, marking a significant shift in his position after previously refusing to play there during spring training with the Boston Red Sox. Although Devers has taken reps at first base since his trade to the Giants, this will be his first time playing the position at any level. His batting performance has been underwhelming this season, with a .219 average and only two home runs since joining the Giants.

The Giants, struggling with a six-game losing streak, are currently 3.5 games out of the Wild Card spot. Devers' transition to first may be a strategic move to spark his performance and bring some much-needed production to the lineup. Fans will be watching closely to see if this position change can revive his offensive output.