With about a month left in the regular season, the Red Sox are in a good spot, sitting comfortably in the second Wild Card position. The bigger picture, though, looks pretty clear: Tampa Bay’s blistering post-deadline surge - nine straight wins - has probably pushed the division title out of Boston’s reach, leaving the final weeks focused on Wild Card positioning.
The Sox are coming off a home win over the San Francisco Giants and a series victory against the Miami Marlins, a team that is still alive in the National League playoff chase. Next up could be the most significant series they have left, a three-game set in the Bronx against the Yankees. It will be the final time Boston sees New York this season.
September brings a schedule that is heavy on home dates. Boston has five home series and three road series on the month’s docket, starting with three games against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway before a four-game trip to Baltimore. From there, the Red Sox return home for three against the Los Angeles Angels, then begin a stretch of 12 straight games that alternates between home and road series.
The first off day in two weeks comes after the Angels series, and Boston gets to spend it at home before Kansas City arrives for a three-game weekend set. Another off day follows on the next Monday, this one a travel day before the Red Sox head to Texas for three against the Rangers. After that, they go to Tampa for another three-game series, a trip that could matter even more if Boston manages to move back into the division race.
The final week of the season also opens and closes at home. Boston gets another Monday off before hosting the Cleveland Guardians, then finishes with Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs in the last series of the year.
At first glance, the schedule has some softer spots. Three series against the AL West help, since Seattle is six games under .500, Texas is one game under, and the Angels are 30 games under. Boston also draws the Royals, who are the fifth-worst team in baseball this season.
But the path isn’t exactly clean. A lot of these opponents still have something to chase.
The Yankees are battling for the top spot in the American League. The AL West remains tight, with no one having separated from the pack; Texas is only a game out, and Seattle is four back.
Tampa Bay will likely still be trying to hold off both Boston and New York. Cleveland and Baltimore should still be in the AL Wild Card mix, with four teams sitting between the third Wild Card spot and being three games out.
The one series that looks more manageable is the final one against the Cubs, who should likely have a Wild Card spot secured in the National League by then, though they would still need a push to close the five-game gap to the Milwaukee Brewers, the best team in baseball this season.
So while the calendar does give Boston some chances, only the Angels and Royals are certain to be playing out the string by the time the Red Sox face them. The off days should help, especially the rare one that doesn’t involve travel. The hope in Boston is simple: wrap up a Wild Card berth soon, settle in, and get ready for October.
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The wrinkle is the looming collective bargaining agreement expiration and the possibility of a lockout, which could make a September promotion or a roster move carry consequences well beyond this season. Teams have to balance the usual development calculus against the risk that a player added now could be frozen in place later, limiting his chances to keep playing and progressing in 2027. [Read more 🡒]