The Boston Red Sox have had a rather interesting start to the 2022 season. They came out of the gates ice cold, before going on an absolute tear midway through May and June. As soon as the calendar flipped to July, though, they went cold again, causing them to head into the MLB All-Star break on a bad note.

Boston currently sits two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot in the American League as we prepare for the second half of the season. They have shown the potential to be one of the best teams in the majors when they are firing on all cylinders, but the problem is that injuries and poor play have derailed them from establishing any sort of staying power in the standings.

It could be a wild ride to the finish line for Boston. But what should we expect to happen between now and the end of their season? Let's take a look at three bold predictions for the Red Sox as they look to fight their way back into the postseason.

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3 bold predictions for the Boston Red Sox after the All-Star break

3. Rafael Devers will finish the season with 40+ home runs

Rafael Devers is in the middle of an MVP worthy campaign for the Sox. Heading into the All-Star break, Devers is hitting .324 with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs. Those numbers helped Devers earn his second straight starting nod at third base for the American League squad in the MLB All-Star Game, where he is a dark horse candidate to win MVP.

Boston has relied heavily on Devers for consistent production so far this season, and he will need to continue to be at his best if the Sox intend to go on a run to secure a playoff spot after the MLB All-Star break. If Devers keeps up his recent production, chances are he will eclipse the 40 home-run mark during the second half of the season.

While the Sox went cold, Devers got hotter than ever, hitting five home runs in the final eight games he played in before the break. He doesn't show any signs of slowing down, and with 22 bombs under his belt, it seems reasonable to expect him to hit 18 more dingers before the season ends. At the rate Boston is going, they may need him to reach that total if they want any shot of sticking around in the playoff race.

2. The Red Sox will stand pat at the trade deadline

For a point in time it looked like the Sox were going to be big buyers heading into the trade deadline. They were rolling over opponents despite having a very weak bullpen, virtually no production at first base, and an outfield running on fumes. Upgrades were, and still are, needed for Boston.

Things have changed though, as Boston crawled into the All-Star break losing 14 of their last 20 games. They are on the outside looking in when it comes to the AL Wild Card race, and while two games is not exactly a huge deficit yet, Boston's recent results haven't exactly inspired confidence in their chances of winning this season.

The argument of what the Sox should do at the trade deadline has proven to be quite a divisive one so far, with fans either wholeheartedly believing they should be buyers or sellers. The prediction here is that Chaim Bloom and Boston's front office will stand pat and let the season play out as it may. Maybe a trade will be swung for a first baseman or another bullpen arm or two, but chances are the Sox aren't going to make a splash like they were initially expected to.

1. Chris Sale will return this season and be the winning pitcher in Boston's deciding Wild Card game

The first half of Boston's season probably couldn't have come to a much worse conclusion. Chris Sale got his pinky finger obliterated by a comebacker, and the Sox got blown out by the New York Yankees. Sale will be heading back to the injured list just a week after coming off it to make his first start of the season.

Everyone was curious to figure out whether Sale would be able to make it back before the season's end, and given how he's already had surgery to fix his pinky, it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to make a return in late September. By then, Boston should know whether or not they are playoff contenders.

We certainly saved the boldest prediction for last here. Not only will the Sox earn a Wild Card spot this season, narrowly edging out the Seattle Mariners for the final spot, but they will beat the Minnesota Twins to advance to the divisional round. The best of three series will be decided in the third and final game. The winning pitcher? Chris Sale.

This victory will send Boston through to the divisional round against the Yankees, where they will ultimately come up short. But another spirited postseason run for Boston will encourage the front office to invest in the team over the offseason. Chris Sale will earn himself some goodwill from the fans of Boston after a few years of struggles, and he will aim to pitch a full season in 2023.