Just 11 days ago, the Red Sox held a comfortable spot in the AL East playoff race at 81-65, trailing the Yankees by only one game for the top wild-card position and comfortably ahead of the Rangers and Guardians. However, Cleveland’s hot streak of eight straight wins and 13 out of 14 has tightened the race, while Boston has been hampered by injuries, including to rookie leadoff hitter Roman Anthony. The Red Sox have lost five of their last eight games and now find themselves tied for the third wild-card spot, just 1.5 games ahead of Cleveland, facing the risk of missing the playoffs as the season nears its end.
Despite this, star hitter Alex Bregman remains optimistic. After a recent 11-7 win over the Rays, Bregman suggested that the team’s recent struggles might actually be beneficial, helping them develop resilience needed for the postseason. He emphasized that the team’s goal isn’t just to make the playoffs but to perform strongly and compete deep into October. Bregman believes the team is ready to elevate their game and learn from recent challenges.
Adding to Boston’s hopes is the expected return of outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who has been sidelined with a calf injury. Though he may be rusty, Abreu was hitting .253 with 22 home runs before his injury and could provide a much-needed boost as the Red Sox push toward the playoffs. Manager Alex Cora indicated they will decide soon on activating him.
