Cora challenges Red Sox to 'step up' after All-Star break

The Boston Red Sox limped into the All-Star break with a 5-12 record in July, and manager Alex Cora is challenging his team to raise its level in the season's second half.

"Like I have been saying all along, the three guys have been amazing throughout the first part of the season," Cora said Sunday, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. "We need more. We need other guys to step up, get good at-bats, finish at-bats, and all that stuff. We haven't done that so far this season."

Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez have carried the Red Sox offense this season. However, offseason signing Trevor Story and outfielder Alex Verdugo, among others, have struggled to perform up to expectations.

"We've been very inconsistent offensively during the first part of the season," Cora said. "We hit our stride (sometimes), and then lately, injuries or not, we should be better than that."

Boston finds itself on the outside looking in at the AL playoff picture, raising some questions about what the club could do at the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Cora said that any conversations about the team's needs should focus on the players already in the clubhouse.

"We need help from the people here. It really doesn't matter," Cora said. "We can talk about outside or whatever. The guys that are here … they have to be better."