The Red Sox have gone from chasing the pack to controlling their own October fate.
A season that began with Boston on the outside looking in has turned sharply after a 15-game win streak in July and another surge in August. That run has pushed the Red Sox into the hottest stretch in baseball, and with 12 games left, they’re in position to keep the momentum rolling straight into the postseason.
As of Sept. 15, Boston’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth sits at five. That number had been nine before the Red Sox took two games from the Royals, trimming the path to a postseason spot in a hurry.
Boston currently holds the second Wild Card spot. The Yankees have already locked up a postseason berth, while the Rays have clinched a playoff spot and sit atop the AL East. The Guardians are the team right behind the Red Sox, and the Blue Jays’ loss on Monday kept them out of the playoff picture for now.
The standings show how tight the race still is behind Boston. The Yankees lead the way at 87-63, while the Red Sox are 82-68. Cleveland is next at 76-75, followed by Toronto at 75-76, Texas at 74-76, Baltimore at 73-78, Detroit at 71-79, Minnesota at 70-80, Seattle at 70-81 and Kansas City at 66-84.
If Boston wants to climb past New York for the top spot, it will take a major charge. For now, the clearer mission is locking down a playoff berth and trying to make a deeper push than the club has managed since 2021, when it last got out of the Wild Card game.
The final stretch is lined up with plenty of chances to finish the job. The Red Sox open the closing run with three games at the Rangers, then head to the Rays for a three-game set. After that, they return home for three against the Guardians and finish with three against the Cubs.
Here’s Boston’s remaining September slate:
Sept. 15 at Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Rays, 7:10 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Rays, 4:10 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Rays, 1:40 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Guardians, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. Guardians, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 vs. Guardians, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Cubs, 7:10 p.m.
Sept. 26 vs. Cubs, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Cubs, 3:05 p.m.
In Other News...
Red Sox Manager Shakeup Just Put A Rising Name In Focus
The early-season shuffle in Boston has put a familiar organizational name into sharper focus. With Alex Cora replaced by Chad Tracy, the Red Sox are again staring at the kind of managerial uncertainty that tends to send the spotlight beyond Fenway and into the farm system, where the next wave of leadership often starts taking shape long before it reaches the big leagues.
One of the quieter names worth watching is Liam Carroll, who has been guiding the Greenville Drive since 2025 after previously managing Salem at Single-A. Carroll has earned a strong reputation inside the organization for player development and leadership, picked up work with Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, and has already built up more than 200 minor league wins, the sort of rsum that tends to travel well when a major league club starts rethinking its future. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Infield Need Could Lead To A Fascinating Winter Target
The Red Sox are already being linked to a familiar winter fix, with second and third base standing out as places where an upgrade could make sense. Boston has spent enough time patching the infield to know how quickly the roster can look sturdier when one spot is settled, and Jeff Passans report on Teruaki Sato adds an international wrinkle to that search.
Sato, a 27-year-old third baseman with the Hanshin Tigers, is expected to be posted and could emerge as a real name for the Red Sox to watch. His offensive record in Nippon Professional Baseball, including 35 home runs and a strong OPS, is the kind of production that naturally gets attention, especially for a club weighing whether to shop more aggressively for help on the left side of the infield. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Are Already Feeling Better About The Marcelo Mayer Trade
The Red Soxs decision to move Marcelo Mayer to San Francisco was always going to spark a second-guessing cycle, but the early returns have made the deal easier to live with in Boston. Mayer has battled injuries throughout his career and still has not appeared for the Giants this season, while the Red Sox have already addressed a clear need by bringing in reliever Erik Miller and adding minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez.
For a club trying to steady its roster, the bullpen help matters, and Boston also has more than one way to cover the infield without leaning on Mayer. Trevor Story remains a key option there, and prospect Franklin Arias gives the organization another name to keep in mind. The trade may still be judged over the long haul, but for now the Red Sox can at least point to immediate help and a path that did not leave them short-handed. [Read more 🡒]