TAMPA -- Six games left. Everything to play for.\n\nAnticipation is mounting for the Red Sox, who are participating in their first true pennant race since 2021.
Though a weekend sweep at George M. Steinbrenner Field would have been nice, the visitors seemed to have zero interest in rehashing Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Rays that prevented them from breaking out those proverbial brooms.\n\nAfter consecutive series losses to the Yankees and Athletics at Fenway, though, winning a series was a step forward.\n\n“You can’t sit and dwell on this game, it’s way too late in the year,” said Red Sox third baseman
Bregman’s reasoned approach will help a young team have the right mindset for the final week of the regular season.\n\nAs for the standings update, here’s what it looks like:\n\nThe Sox are in possession of the second American League Wild Card spot, holding a one-game lead over both the Guardians and Astros. However, it essentially amounts to a two-game lead over those clubs because Boston won the season series against both.\n\nWhile catching the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot – which would mean hosting a best-of-three series – doesn’t seem all that feasible with a three-game deficit to their rivals, the possibility hasn’t been eliminated. The Sox also won their season series against the Yankees, which gives them the tiebreaker.
Manager Alex Cora and his club will keep the focus on baseball instead of math.\n\n“Every game counts. We're in a good position,” said Cora. “That was a good series by the boys. They battled. They did an amazing job, and we’ve just got to be ready for Tuesday.”\n\nWhile Cora’s team is 7-9 since losing star rookie Roman Anthony to a left oblique strain that will keep the outfielder from playing until at least the postseason, here are some developments that have the Red Sox thinking positive heading into their final two series (at Toronto, home versus Detroit).\n\n**The offense looks better** \nWhile a Sunday night of squanders prevented the Sox from scoring six runs or more for the third time in the series, the hits are starting to fall for a lineup that had been slumping collectively.\n\nBregman went 5-for-11 with a homer in Tampa after a prolonged slump had left him with an OPS of .452 in the 22 games that preceded this weekend.
Dazzling center fielder
**Abreu is back** \nThough right fielder