Rangers Closing In as Red Sox Feel the Heat in Tight Wild Card Race
BOSTON — The American League Wild Card race has tightened into a four-team sprint, and the Boston Red Sox suddenly find themselves looking over their shoulder at the hard-charging Texas Rangers.
Texas pulled to within two games of Boston after Tuesday’s slate, creating a logjam with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros for the league’s final postseason spots. What makes the Rangers particularly dangerous is that they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Boston, meaning a tie at season’s end would send Texas through and leave the Red Sox on the outside.
Boston’s margin for error is further squeezed by the schedule. According to MLB metrics, the Red Sox face the sixth-toughest remaining slate in baseball, with series looming against division leaders Baltimore and New York plus a road trip to face the surging Guardians. By contrast, the Rangers’ closing stretch ranks 19th in difficulty, while Houston and Seattle sit at 18th and 27th respectively.
“We know what’s in front of us,” manager Alex Cora said before Wednesday’s game at Fenway Park. “Nobody’s going to hand us a spot. We have to earn it.”
Recent results have offered little comfort. Boston has stumbled to a 4–6 record over its last 10 games, with inconsistent starting pitching and a slumping middle of the order eroding the momentum that carried the club through the summer. Rafael Devers and Triston Casas remain threats, but the lineup has struggled to produce big hits with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Texas is heating up at precisely the right moment. The defending World Series champions have won 15 of their last 21, powered by Corey Seager’s steady bat and a breakout September from rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford, whose ninth-inning heroics against the Mets earlier this week highlighted the Rangers’ knack for late-game dramatics.
“It’s fun to be in the hunt,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Our guys feel like we’re built for these games. We respect Boston, but we’re focused on us.”
Seattle and Houston remain factors as well. The Mariners boast one of baseball’s deepest rotations, while the Astros’ postseason pedigree makes them dangerous despite an up-and-down year. But with their favorable schedule and tiebreaker edge, Texas appears best positioned to climb.
For Boston, the path is simple but unforgiving: stabilize the pitching staff, find consistent offense, and navigate a brutal final month. Every game now carries October stakes.
“We control our destiny,” Cora said. “If we play to our capability, we’ll be there. But we have to play better baseball.”
The Red Sox have little time to regroup. With the Rangers charging and two other contenders lurking, the pressure is squarely on Boston to protect a playoff spot that once seemed secure.
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