FOR SOX, TEST YET TO COME

Here come the White Sox. Riding a six-game winning streak as they return home to face the Guardians and Yankees this week, the Sox are back above .500 — at 14-13 — for the first time since April 20. They are on fire, scorching, sizzling, red-hot. No, make that white-hot. Is it too soon to start planning the championship parade?

‘‘It feels amazing,’’ catcher Reese McGuire said after a 3-2 victory Sunday in Boston.

At the least, thank-you notes should be sent to the Red Sox and Cubs, the stuck-inthe-muck squads the Sox just swept. How does a team go 6-0 despite scoring only 20 runs during that stretch? By pitching very well, steadying a shaky defense, sprinkling in a few clutch hits and — perhaps the key to the whole operation — playing two of the worst teams in baseball so far.

The Sox went 6-2 to start the season. Then came an eight-game losing streak as injuries mounted, an explosion of errors occurred, Tony La Russa was knocked for his managing and fans muttered expletives into their soup. Now the Sox have a winning streak that matches their longest of the entire 2021 season. What a roller-coaster ride it already has been.

But are the Sox really on the right track, one that will go in pretty much the intended direction for a nice, long stretch? Think freight train, not roller coaster. If three games against the Guardians don’t illuminate us, then four against the American League-leading Yankees certainly will.

Here’s what’s happening:

GETTY IMAGES The Red Sox’ Rafael Devers looks back to see the ball in the glove of White Sox catcher Reese McGuire after striking out Sunday at Fenway Park. The White Sox completed a three-game sweep with a 3-2 victory.