Red Sox: 10 things to watch in the second half

10. The Rays and Yankees Are the Rays for real? Having dropped seven straight games heading into the break, it's a legitimate question for a young, unproven team. The Sox, who hold a half-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, don't face the Rays again until September, but they meet six times in the season's final month. The injury-depleted Yankees are six games behind the Red Sox. Boston and New York face off nine times in the second half, including the last three games of the season at Fenway Park.

10. The Rays and Yankees


Are the Rays for real? Having dropped seven straight games heading into the break, it's a legitimate question for a young, unproven team. The Sox, who hold a half-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, don't face the Rays again until September, but they meet six times in the season's final month. The injury-depleted Yankees are six games behind the Red Sox. Boston and New York face off nine times in the second half, including the last three games of the season at Fenway Park.
(Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)