With many doubters to start the season, the 2021 Boston Red Sox are just a good stretch of wins away from clinching a spot in the American League playoffs.
Boston (88-65) has won seven games in a row entering a crucial three game series against their rival New York Yankees at Fenway Park Friday night. With the Tampa Bay Rays already clinching a playoff spot and is only a magic number of four away from winning the American League East, it looks as if the Red Sox will be battling for one of two wild card spots. Boston is currently two games ahead of New York for the top wild card spot, which would mean a home game. Toronto is one game out of the second spot behind New York, while Seattle is a game behind Toronto and Oakland is two games behind the Mariners.
The important rivalry series with the Yankees is especially key, considering Boston has three at Baltimore and three at Washington after the New York series to finish the regular season. The Orioles (49-104) and Nationals (64-89) are a combined 80 games under .500 on the season.
The first game Friday night features Nathan Eovaldi and Gerrit Cole on the mound. Here is a rundown of the current wild card standings and the remaining schedule for those five wild card contenders, including Boston:
Standings- A.L. Wild Card
*Boston 88-65 –
*New York 86-67 2 GB
Toronto 85-68 3 GB
Seattle 84-69 4 GB
Oakland 82-71 6 GB
*-current wild card team
Boston- vs New York (3 games), at Baltimore (3 games), at Washington (3 games)
New York- at Boston (3 games), at Toronto (3 games), vs Tampa Bay (3 games)
Toronto- at Minnesota (3 games), vs New York (3 games), vs Baltimore (3 games)
Seattle- at LA Angels (3 games), vs Oakland (3 games), vs LA Angels (3 games)
Oakland- vs Houston (3 games), at Seattle (3 games), at Houston (3 games)
