The Red Sox are entering the gauntlet.

Beginning Tuesday, Boston will host the Phillies, the top team in the National League. On Friday, the top team in the American League — the New York Yankees — comes to town.

These next six games will provide a good test for the Sox, whose pitching staff has helped them stay within striking distance of a playoff berth.

Lately, however, the staff has struggled.

The Sox posted a 2.59 team ERA through April, which was best in baseball. The team ERA was 4.12 in May and 4.00 in June and now sits at 3.40 for the season.

Boston was fortunate to split a four-game series in Chicago against the lowly White Sox this weekend. After dropping two of the first three games, Boston appeared on the cusp of losing the series when it entered the ninth inning of Sunday’s game down by a run.

However, the Sox fought back, plating the tying run in the ninth and two more in the 10th to pull out the victory and a series split. It was the first time this season the Red Sox rallied for a victory when trailing after seven innings.

Kenley Jansen threw two scoreless innings, his longest appearance with Boston.

“We’ve just got to continue,” Jansen said after the game. “We’ve got to find a way to be more consistent. At some point, we’ve got to win more than we’re losing. We’ve just got to keep grinding.”

The Red Sox (33-33) hoped to build some momentum and confidence against the woeful White Sox. It didn’t happen. Instead, the Red Sox survived to spend yet another day with as many losses as victories.

Hall of Fame hockey writer Kevin Dupont of The Boston Globe used to call the Hartford Whalers the “Forever .500s.” At Fenway, it feels like the Sox have been hovering around .500 forever. They haven’t been more than two games above or below .500 in more than a month.

They will be thrilled to be above that mark after this week. Boston is 8-19 against teams with winning records this season.

The Phillies had a long flight to Boston after splitting a pair of games with the Mets in London. Philadelphia had Monday off to rest. The Red Sox were also off Monday.

Phillies’ starter Tuesday night, Zack Wheeler, doesn’t need the extra rest. In fact, he doesn’t want it. Wheeler has a 4.12 ERA when pitching on extra rest. When going every fifth day, his ERA is 1.95. Wheeler, a legit Cy Young candidate, will be pitching for the first time in a week when he faces Kutter Crawford.

It’s also been a week since Crawford pitched, but unlike Wheeler he needed the rest. After a brilliant start, Crawford has given up 15 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts.

If all goes well he’ll face the Phillies and the Yankees at Fenway this week, where the Sox have a losing record. You can bet Fenway Park will be packed with Philadelphia and New York fans, as well. Visitors have been packing Fenway over the last couple of seasons, filling up a ballpark that hasn’t sold out since Opening Day.

Boston fans have been rightfully spending their time and energy on the Celtics’ thrilling ride to the NBA Finals. Another ride, this time on duck boats, could be coming soon. When the NBA Finals end, the Sox will be the only game in town. They’ll have a chance to captivate fans, although we’ll find out this week if the team is worth the attention.

Tom Caron is a studio host for the Red Sox broadcast on NESN.