The Red Sox’s approach to the trade deadline is clear for Craig Breslow

The Boston Red Sox had an opportunity to secure four consecutive series sweeps entering Sunday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.

If you’re doing the math at home, that’s an opportunity at 13 consecutive victories ranging back to July 3.

Boston, which once looked dead in the water as they occupied the basement of the American League East for nearly two months following injuries to Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, and Garrett Crochet, is now in position to make the playoffs and clearly looking to buy at the trade deadline — with the focus clear for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.

“I don’t think I would look at this team and come to drastically different conclusions than anyone else who’s watching us,” Breslow said in his session with local media on Sunday, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “… We’ve gotten consistently good starting pitching, good relief pitching. At times we’ve struggled to score runs. So, I think that’s a place where we’ll spend time. But until we know what teams are looking to do, and until we know what’s available, it’s really difficult to say like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do.’”

The Red Sox have been something of an anomaly, as they came out of the break sporting one of the worst offenses in franchise history — 0.42 runs per game less than league average ranks as one of the five worst seasons in franchise history, their .243 batting average ranked as the ninth-worst, and their 32.7% chase rate is the worst since that data was introduced in 2008.

It’s not hard to figure out why they’re winning, though.

Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez have been a revelation, combining for a 2.84 ERA in the first half of the season while going 15-4. Payton Tolle (3.11 ERA), Jake Bennett (2.35 ERA), and Connelly Early (3.44 ERA) have had tremendous rookie campaigns.

Patrick Sandoval has made back-to-back quality starts on an emergency basis, and that’s just the starting rotation! Aroldis Chapman is still Aroldis Chapman. Garrett Whitlock has allowed eight total earned runs. Tyron Guerrero, Justin Slaten, and Greg Weissert have given them quality innings out of the bullpen.

It’s simple.. if they’re going to make a real run then they’re going to need to make upgrades to the lineup.

Breslow already started with the acquisition of Jahmai Jones on July 14, but there could be more coming in the form of a right-handed bat who can play the middle infield or someone that can serve as an upgrade on their bench pieces — with it only being a matter of time before they make their move.