UPDATE: The Boston Red Sox are feeling the pressure as their playoff hopes dim following a 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, September 28, 2023. This defeat not only means they dropped the three-game series to a noncontending team, but it also allowed the Cleveland Guardians to close the gap to just 1.5 games behind the Red Sox in the American League wild-card race.
Currently positioned for the third and final wild-card spot, the Red Sox now find themselves 2.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the race for home-field advantage in the first round. This latest setback adds urgency to their remaining schedule as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Rays in a critical three-game series.
Manager Alex Cora expressed the need for improvement, stating, “We control our own destiny. We’ve got to play better baseball. That’s it.” With the team losing five of their last seven games, the outlook has shifted from a promising playoff run to a potential early exit from contention.
“Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low,” Cora advised, reflecting on their last playoff appearance in 2021. “It’s 162 (games) for a reason.”
The Red Sox’s remaining schedule includes three games against the Rays in Tampa Bay, followed by another three in Toronto, before concluding the season with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Cora remains optimistic, insisting there is no panic within the clubhouse, despite the mounting pressure.
When questioned about postseason lineup construction, Cora surprised reporters by suggesting to “stop talking about October, to be honest with you.” He emphasized, “There’s a lot of stuff going on and we have to play better. I’m not saying we’re in a bad spot. But we have to wait to see if October is part of this.”
As the playoff race intensifies, every game counts for the Red Sox. Fans are urged to stay tuned for the next crucial match against the Rays, where the team’s focus on improving performance will be put to the test. The stakes are high, and the team must rally to secure their postseason aspirations.
