Red Sox 2025 Season

[Vermont Green]

I look at it this way, if BOS only goes 3-3, is that good enough?  Probably.  Assuming that DET wins the division and the competition is HOU and CLE, if we go 3-3, that means both HOU AND CLE need to go 5-1 or better since we own the tiebreaker against both HOU and CLE.  We do not own the tiebreaker over DET.

It gets more complicated if DET and CLE end up tied as CLE owns the tiebreaker over DET but DET owns it over BOS.  It would only matter though if HOU somehow got ahead of BOS, CLE wins the division (outright or via tiebreaker), and it came down to BOS vs. DET for the last wildcard.

The safest thing for BOS is if HOU loses, but their remaining games are @LAA and @OAK.  DET has @BOS and @CLE.   It is not out of the question that HOU wins most of their remaining games and that DET falls back behind CLE.

Bottom line, root for DET over CLE, if DET can win the series vs. CLE 2-1 or 3-0, very good for BOS.  And root for HOU to lose no matter who they play.

[Vermont Green]

Massive game tonight.  Scherzer, in his last start, only lasted 0.2 innings, threw 45 pitches, gave us 7 runs vs. KC.  He did have 2 strike outs.

I guess he will be rested for this start.

[Phantom255x]

Massive game tonight.  Scherzer, in his last start, only lasted 0.2 innings, threw 45 pitches, gave us 7 runs vs. KC.  He did have 2 strike outs.

I guess he will be rested for this start.

Well done Red Sox vs. Scherzer! 

Crochet looking good so far too

[Moranis]

Saw a stat that Cleveland basically had a 0% chance to win the division on August 25th.  If the score holds tonight they will have a 1 game lead on Detroit and they own the tiebreaker with 1 more against Detroit tomorrow and then a 3-game series with Texas (who is eliminated).  While Detroit closes with Boston, who obviously needs to win that series.  One of the most amazing sports feats you will find if they actually pull it off. 

[Phantom255x]

Magic number is UNO

[Vermont Green]

A lot changed in the last week or so.  NYY and TOR are now tied, but I think TOR has the tie breaker over NYY.  BOS seems to be in good shape to win a wildcard, probably the 2nd slot.  I would rather start the playoffs in TOR than in NYC.  TOR is reeling and can be beaten in a short series.  NYY I would rather meet in a longer series.  So I guess it means I have to root for NYY for the last 4 games.  Uuuggghhh.

[Roy H.]

I tip my hat to this team.  In April I thought there was about a 1% chance of them making the playoffs.

I'm still completely out on John Henry.

[Donoghus]

I tip my hat to this team.  In April I thought there was about a 1% chance of them making the playoffs.

I'm still completely out on John Henry.

Same.  I didn't expect them to be hovering near 90 wins this season.  Still absolutely despise John Henry

[Redz]

A solid whooping last night!  Baseball is definitely the streakiest of all sports.   It looks like the Sox will end up playing these same Jays in the first round.  I'd also much rather see the Yankees in a long series than a short one with all the games on their home turf.  Let's see if the Sox can complete a sweep tonight.

On another happy note, last night's win clinched my pre-season futures bet of over 86.5 wins!  On the downside, I need 4 homers from Bergman in the last 4 games to make good on my over 20.5 homers wager for him.

[Redz]

And just like that, the nerves are back.  Houston and Detroit both win and the Sox lose.  Very conceivable that Houston sweeps the Angels and Detroit may have finally woken up in time to realize they can still save their division title.  They?re a motivated team coming to Fenway. 

[Vermont Green]

Nothing clinched yet.  I like the way Cora set up the rotation, using the "big 3" in these games vs. TOR.  Now of course we have 2 triple-A guys lined up for the next 2 games vs DET (Kyle Harrison and Connelly Early).  Harrison does have 36 MLB starts I guess.  Luckily, we may not even need to win to clinch.  BOS is still favored in the first game vs. DET per ESPN Bet.  Very unlikely it comes down to Sunday for BOS at this point.

There are scenarios where we end up getting DET or CLE in the wild card round.  For example, due to tie breakers, if all 3 of BOS, DET. CLE end up with 88 wins, CLE wins the division and DET is ahead of BOS in the wild card ranking.  HOU could also get to 88 wins.  BOS holds the tie breaker over them but I am not sure how that would work exactly.  CLE would get the division by tie breaker over DET, NYY or TOR would have the first wild card spot, and DET, BOS, and HOU would all have 88 wins.  I think it would be DET and BOS in and HOU out, but I am not sure.

[Vermont Green]

They (HOU) need to handle their business and sweep the Angels this weekend to have any real shot at making it into October, but they also need help elsewhere because they (HOU) do not possess a tiebreaker advantage over any of the three clubs they're competing against for these two wild card spots. Even if the Astros do sweep the Angels, the Red Sox would earn a spot with a win and the Tigers and Guardians would do the same with two wins apiece.

This answers my question from above.  If HOU sweeps, BOS wins 1, DET wins 2, and CLE wins 2, all 4 teams would end up with 88 wins.  In that case, BOS is in as the 3rd WC and I think would play CLE in the WC round.  DET would play TOR or NYY, whichever is the WC team.  There are even fewer scenarios that could result in BOS playing DET to start the playoffs.  That would require DET to sweep (end up with 89 wins) and CLE to end up with exactly 88 winds.  Also, of course, HOU would have to lose at least 1 game.

I really hope BOS just wins tonight.  It would be great to see a solid start by Harrison.  At that point, BOS would be in but could start the playoffs against, NYY, TOR, CLE or DET.  On the road in all cases.  It doesn't really matter to me at that point.

[Phantom255x]

Not panicking yet. Admittedly though if they lose tonight and Houston wins again then I might start to worry going into tomorrow lol.

[Redz]

Kind of a dream scenario for MLB with all the possibilities and teams involved.

[Moranis]

Kershaw moving to the bullpen for his final post season run is amazing to me.  New found respect for him if he does that all post season