The Red Sox are one step closer to the postseason, and the Yankees helped set the table.
New York clinched a playoff berth on September 14, joining the Tampa Bay Rays as the only two American League clubs already locked into October baseball as of September 15. The Yankees did it with a comeback win over the Minnesota Twins, a game they survived despite committing three errors.
For Boston, the timing matters. If the Red Sox hold onto the second Wild Card spot and get in, they’d be headed for a rematch of the only postseason series they played last year - a best-of-three set in the Bronx.
Boston’s magic number is now five, with four series left on the schedule. Any mix of Red Sox wins and Toronto Blue Jays losses that adds up to five will send the Sox to the playoffs.
That is still far from a sure thing. Toronto has been one of the strongest teams in the second half, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may have given that group another jolt on September 13 when he hit his first home run of the season at Rogers Centre.
The road in front of Boston is a tough one. Each of the Red Sox’s final four series comes against teams that are either in the playoff field or still chasing it, beginning with the Texas Rangers. Texas sits one spot behind the Blue Jays in the standings as of this writing and has plenty to play for as it pushes toward its first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 2023.
Wilyer Abreu may be able to make life easier on that front. He has a 2.035 OPS over eight games at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
After the Rangers come the Guardians, Rays and Cubs. Cleveland will be battling to protect its Wild Card position if it still has one when the series begins on September 22.
Tampa Bay is already in, but that won’t make the Rays any easier to face; they still have seeding to chase. Chicago, meanwhile, remains in the mix for the top Wild Card spot in the National League.
FanGraphs now pegs Boston’s playoff odds at 100 percent. The Red Sox still have work to do, but they’re right on the doorstep, and if the results break their way, they could clinch by the end of the week.
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 🡒]