Red Sox Roar! Boston on Brink of Playoffs After Blue Jays Beatdown!
The Boston Red Sox are tantalizingly close to a playoff berth for the first time since 2021! Wednesday's dominant 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, fueled by eight shutout innings from Garrett Crochet, has put Boston in a prime position to clinch a postseason spot.
Magic Number Down to One!
Boston's magic number is now just one. This means that either a Red Sox win against Toronto or an Astros loss to the Oakland A's on Thursday will secure a playoff spot for the Red Sox. The team could conceivably clinch before they even take the field on Thursday night, as Houston plays in the afternoon.
The Red Sox (87-71) currently hold the second American League Wild Card spot, two games ahead of the Detroit Tigers (85-73) and three games ahead of the Houston Astros (84-74). Importantly, Boston holds the tiebreaker over Houston, giving them a four-game cushion with only four games left in the season.
Blue Jays Stumble, Yankees Loom
While the Red Sox are surging, the Toronto Blue Jays are faltering. Their recent losing streak has them tied atop the AL East with the New York Yankees (both 90-68). Toronto currently holds the tiebreaker, but the race for the division title is incredibly tight.
Other Playoff Clinchings
The Seattle Mariners have clinched the AL West, their first division title since 2001. The Cleveland Guardians have seized control of the AL Central. In the National League, the Phillies have clinched a first-round playoff bye, joining the Brewers and Dodgers as division winners. The Cubs and Padres are currently in line for the Wild Card spots.
Keep an eye on the Red Sox and Astros game today! October baseball is just around the corner!