Adam Duvall is heating up at the plate as the Red Sox fight for a playoff spot

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

At the MLB trade deadline, Adam Duvall was a popular name in the rumor mill. With teams looking to add an impact bat with playoff experience, Duvall had plenty of suitors. Instead, the Red Sox chose to hold onto the veteran outfielder. That decision is paying off as he is stepping up when needed the most.

In his last 30 games, the 34-year-old has posted a .294 batting average and driven in 13 runs. After struggling in June, Duvall has started to look like the player who dominated headlines in April. However, his best stretch has come over the last three days in Houston.

The Kentucky native has thrived against Astros pitching, with three home runs and seven runs batted. With the Red Sox and Astros tied at four in the tenth on Wednesday night, he put Boston in front for good with a three-run homer after fouling a 99 mph pitch off his foot. Prior to the start of this series, Duvall was hitting .189 in August.

His success has been due to adjustments that are paying off.

“He’s made some adjustments and he’s catching up with the fastball and he’s pulling the ball,” said Alex Cora postgame on Wednesday night. “And I think he mentioned that a few weeks ago that he was missing that and so far here he’s put three great swings and that was huge for us tonight.”

While Duvall’s overall starts may not jump off the page, he is steadily improving after hitting .167 in June. He posted a .246 batting average in July, and so far in August, he is hitting .258. He also has nine extra-base hits this month, matching his total from July.

Additionally, battling for a spot in the postseason is not an unfamiliar situation for Duvall. He has appeared in 27 playoff games and won a World Series with the Braves in 2021. That Braves team only won 88 games in the regular season and needed a second-half surge to make it into the playoffs.

Entering play on Thursday, the Red Sox are four games out of a playoff spot. As they look to erase that deficit, they will need everyone at their best. With wins at a premium, Duvall is providing a spark to the offense.

Follow Jamie on Twitter @JamieGatlin17

For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.

Join our new Facebook group for all of our latest content, click the link here.