This will not be ''make-or-break,'' because late June is too early for that.
This is not about statements, because they've already done that.
When the Red Sox finish with their next two series, there will still be more than half the season remaining. They could sweep the six games -- or get swept -- and it will neither guarantee nor disqualify them from winning the division.
That said, this week has the unmistakable feel of the start of the pennant race: back-to-back series with the two teams closest to them in East -- the Rays, a half-game and percentage points behind, and the Yankees, 4.5 games back. Add in the warmer weather and the official start of summer and this just seems different.
It seemed incredible that the Red Sox have played the Atlanta Braves more times than either of their division rivals. To date, the Sox have had just one series with the Rays and the Yankees - sweeping both. But the last time they played the Rays, the Red Sox were busy climbing out of a disastrous season-opening series sweep at the hands of the Orioles. April seems like three years ago -- rather than three months.
A lot has changed since then. By taking three in a row from the Rays, the Red Sox found both their footing and their confidence. Since that desultory opening series, the Red Sox have the second-best record (43-26) in the American League, a mere half-game behind the Oakland A's (44-26).
The Red Sox have shown a peculiar penchant at times for playing up (or down) to the quality of competition: They're 6-0 against the Rays and Yanks, but 2-5 against Kansas City and Texas.
But enough about what's already happened. This is more about what's to come.
A breakdown of the two opponents:
TAMPA BAY RAYS
As always with the resourceful Rays, it seems that little derails them. They lost two important starting pitchers over the winter (Blake Snell and Charlie Morton) and it didn't slow them. They traded their starting shortstop (Willy Adames) and it didn't faze them. And while they've gone on a six-game losing skid after Tyler Glasnow's elbow diagnosis was revealed, it's unlikely that will be their undoing, either.
The Rays are like the villain in some slasher film who cannot be slowed: no matter how injured or disabled or how many parts have been lost, they keep coming.
On a budget.
It speaks volumes about the challenges the Rays' pitching staff is currently facing that, Sunday, the Rays were uncertain who would start two of the three games in their series with the Red Sox. (Rich Hill, the game's oldest starting pitcher, is confirmed as the starter for the middle game of the set).
No doubt, the Rays will get a boost of energy from the arrival of Wander Franco, who will make his major league debut in the opener. Franco is universally regarded as the best prospect in the game. But in another sign of just how talented the Rays are, he likely won't make his debut at shortstop, his natural position. That's because the Rays feel no immediate need to displace Taylor Walls, who took over the position in the aftermath of the Adames trade and has, of course, outperformed his predecessor offensively.
Another quirk: Austin Meadows has been the team's best hitting outfielder, but he's been mostly limited to DH duties because the Rays possess three outfielders who are each better defenders.
NEW YORK YANKEES
The Yankees remain very much an enigma. They have the biggest payroll in the American League, but have significant holes with their roster. Some of their highest-profile players -- D.J. LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, and to a lesser extent, Gary Sanchez -- continue to underperform. Each week, it seems, GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone take turns occupying the hot seat.
The Yankees were supposed to be an offensive superpower, and yet, of the top seven players on their roster ranked by WAR, six are pitchers. And No. 3 is a multi-inning reliever, Jonathan Loaisga.
And yet it would be foolish to dismiss the Yankees, if only because the roster is filled with star players eminently capable of enhanced production. Moreover, if the Yankees get a healthy Corey Kluber and Luis Severino back -- no sure thing, admittedly -- their rotation would become highly formidable.
For now, the Yankees continue to run hot-and-cold. They followed being swept by the Phillies in Philadelphia with a road sweep of the Blue Jays, a series that seemed to quell the noise -- only to drop two-of-three to Oakland at home over the weekend.
But their righthanded-heavy lineup is always a threat at Fenway, and unlike their first visit to New York, the Sox will not have the good fortune to dodge Gerrit Cole, who will pitch the series finale Sunday.
In a week, we'll know more about where the Red Sox stand in relation to their closest pursuers in the division. A more telling stretch will happen coming out of the All-Star break when, incredibly, the Red Sox will play either the Yankees, Rays or Toronto Blue Jays 24 times over a period of 27 games.
Until then, consider this a nice mid-course serving.
The pennant race has arrived.
