Sure enough, the Red Sox have begun their late-season push.

As we’ve pointed out throughout the season, last year’s “magical” Cowboy Up run didn’t get started until late in August when the Sox swept four games from the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park Aug. 22-24. Until that series, the Sox trailed in the Wild Card race and had lost nine of their previous 14 games.

All was not well in The Nation.

That’s why there’s so much of a feeling of “dj vu” around the ballpark this week. The Sox stormed back home after a 5-1 road trip and eight wins in nine games. It got them back to .500 on the road, and brought them back to the place where they had won more games than all but three MLB teams this year.

Of course, this is Red Sox Nation, so there’s always an undercurrent of worry at all times, good or bad. Cynics say the Sox have been feasting on a weak schedule, and that they’ll fade back to the pack when the going gets tougher.

It’s unfair to criticize the team for beating up on lesser competition.

You don’t make the schedule, you play it. And there’s going to be a strength-of-schedule correction coming soon. If this has been the calm waters, the rapids are right around the corner.

After today’s game, the Sox begin one of the most crucial stretches of the entire season. They play six more games on this homestand, three against Anaheim and three more against Texas. They then hit the road for three at Oakland (before going on to Seattle.)

It’s a nine-game stretch against the three top teams in the AL West, two of which will be battling the Sox directly for the Wild Card.

It’s the toughest stretch the team will face the rest of this season.

After that, there are two rather big bumps in the road, a pair of three-game series against the Yankees.

Other than that, the final 18 games are against Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. This is no guarantee of victory, just look at Boston’s 4-7 record against the Orioles if you need to be reminded that nothing is easy. Nonetheless, you have to beat the Baltimores of the world if you want to make it to the playoffs.

Yes, the Yankees suddenly look mortal, and it’s no longer a reach for the Sox to think about catching New York. Let’s put that discussion off for another day. Right now, let’s dwell on the Wild Card race.

The Rangers play 14 of their last 20 games against either Oakland or Anaheim. The A’s play 13 of their last 20 against either Texas or Anaheim.

The Angels play 13 of their last 16 (and the final 10 games of the season) against Oakland and Texas.

That’s tough sledding; the Sox should be able to gain ground while the West beats up on itself.

Bottom line? The schedule favors the Sox.

They’ve still got to make the most of it and can put themselves in a great position with a good week now. It’s all coming down to the final five weeks of the season, and things are in place for the Sox to end the year on a good run.

Just like last year.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is a NESN analyst for Red Sox and Bruins telecasts.