The gauntlet kind of extends into the 2nd half of the season too. Home series against DET, TB, and TEX isn't bad, but we then have a TEN GAME stretch against the Orioles and Yankees, with 7 of those on the road.
But once August 8th ends, it's a TON of games against mid teams or worse. We get 7 games against the Angels (4 at home) and home series against the Marlins and A's. The only west coast road series the entire second half is the Angels. Everywhere else is in Central or Eastern time.
If we can end August 8th a couple of games over .500 I think we will be right in the thick of things. But that's no small task with that schedule (and our roster of misfit underperformers).