It was hard to pull out much of any meaning from the Red Sox's 6-1 loss to the Angels Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
The starter who became the fourth starter for the Sox to give up as many as 10 hits, Patrick Sandoval, most likely won't factor into the postseason equation. The hitters' inability to muster much of any offense could be chalked up to a really good opposing pitcher (Reid Detmers) having a really good night.
If anything, the story of the day was cemented before any pitch was thrown. Garrett Crochet looked more and more like a pitcher who is bound to contribute before this season is done, throwing an intense bullpen session. Willson Contreras could be seen sprinting around the bases, seemingly ready to put his hamstring injury in the rearview mirror. And, up in Portland, Tanner Houck was facing hitters in a real game for the first time since May 12, 2025.
There were also those at-bats in New York taken by Aaron Judge, who represents perhaps the most significant addition of them all after three months out of the Yankees' lineup.
This was the reality of this day, and, assuming there is no catastrophic downturn, the tone for the next few weeks.
The Red Sox aren't winning the division, sitting seven games behind Tampa Bay with 18 games to play. They are still three back of the Yankees in the race for the first wild card spot, which is really four because the New Yorkers own the tiebreaker. The likelihood of playing the Rays instead of the Yanks also seems slim, considering New York is four behind the Rays, needing a three-game sweep in the teams' showdown later this month to claim the tiebreaker.
The Sox are, however, also securely six games ahead of the Guardians for the third wild card spot, which is why Fangraphs has their playoff odds at 99.8 percent.
For drama, you will have to look elsewhere in the MLB standings.
- The Guardians are just one game up on the Blue Jays and 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers. (Cleveland does not own the tiebreaker against either team.)
- The White Sox are now just two games up on the Guardians in the American League Central, with the teams playing a huge three-game set in Cleveland next week. Chicago currently has a two-game lead in the season series between the teams.
- The Rangers are two games behind the Astros with Houston locked in on owning the tiebreaker. They do not play each other the rest of the way.
- There are no doubts about division winners in the National League, with the closest contest coming in the NL East, where the Braves have a four-game spread on the Phillies while owning the tiebreaker.
- The NL wild card does have drama. The race for the top wild card spot is neck-and-neck, with the Phillies just 1/2 game up on the Cubs, with Philly owning the tiebreaker. They do not play each other the rest of the way.
- Both the Phillies and Cubs aren't out of the woods yet, as the third wild card team, Arizona, is still just 3 1/2 games away from wild card leader Philadelphia. While the tiebreaker between Arizona and the Phillies would have to go to record within the teams' respective divisions, Chicago has secured the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks.
- Perhaps the best race is for the final wild card spot, with two of MLB's hottest teams, Arizona and San Diego, battling it out. While the Diamondbacks own a 1/2-game lead on the Padres, it is looking like it will come down to the final series of the regular season when the teams meet at Petco Park for three games. (They are currently deadlocked in their season series.)
Now, back to the Red Sox ...
In exactly 20 days, it certainly seems they are destined to be playing Game 1 of a best-of-three wild card set at Yankee Stadium, repeating their fate from last season. And while those 2025 Sox were just a few innings from advancing to the division series, it would seem this group is better equipped to keep up ... if all systems are go.
They have four starters (Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez, Jake Bennett) who would be perceived as viable options against anything the Yankees throw at them, even American League Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler. It's more about making sure each and every one of them is firing like they recently exhibited in Baltimore.
As for who should pitch in what game? That is one of the decisions that will have to evolve over the next 20 days.
The bullpen is also potentially better equipped, especially with the possible addition of Crochet. Aroldis Chapman. Garrett Whitlock. Erik Miller. Brayan Bello. A healthy Tayron Guerrero. Crochet. That will play. But once again, it will behoove the Red Sox to ensure they land in a healthy and happy place on Sept. 29.
The most interesting debates in this stretch run will be about how to construct the position-player side of the roster.
If Mickey Gasper continues to hit, he has to be on the roster, and figures to be the starting designated hitter against Schlittler in Game 1. That would mean Roman Anthony would be moved to left field (where he played for the first time since his return, Tuesday night). Against any lefties the Yankees throw out, Jahmai Jones would likely be the DH.
So, what does that mean for Jarren Duran and/or Eli White? There is a good chance both still make the postseason roster, with the Red Sox needing to carry one less pitcher. Duran's presence can be an obvious advantage, and an important fail-safe if something happens to Gasper. White is the Red Sox's best pinch-runner and defensive replacement.
The last spot might come down to Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio. The nod would likely go to Kiner-Falefa because of his defensive acumen and postseason experience, and Monasterio's recent offensive downturn.
In terms of what is important in the postseason - hitting home runs while also putting the ball in play - the Red Sox are likely entering October in far better shape than last season. Since that well-documented June 25 jumping-off point, the Sox have more homers than the Yanks and the third-most in the American League. They are also middle-of-the-pack when it comes to strikeouts, with the Yankees fanning the second-most in MLB over that span.
Last season, while the Yankees totaled the fourth-most homers in baseball for September on their way into the postseason, the Red Sox possessed the fourth-fewest. With the presence of Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Contreras, Adley Rutschman, Trevor Story, Ceddanne Rafaela and a healthy and revitalized version of Caleb Durbin, the power vibes are unmistakably trending differently than a year ago.
Twenty days. A lot can happen in 20 days. If there is ever a team that has proven that it's this Red Sox club. Still, this time of year - with it getting darker, school starting and a chill beginning to enter the air - it's worth thinking about what awaits just under three weeks from now.
