The Boston Red Sox are officially in a discouraging slide, dropping back-to-back series and six of their last games, and guess what? Our Seattle Mariners were right there, contributing to that misery! On August 31, our boys marched into Fenway Park and handed the Red Sox a loss that has them staring down a potentially easier path to the ALDS. Yeah, you heard that right, a *loss* to the M’s could actually be a weird kind of silver lining for them, even if it feels like a total gut punch to their morale.
The Yankees Rematch Nobody in Boston Wants
Right now, Boston still holds a decent grip on the second American League Wild Card spot, but that loss to us and dropping three of four to the Yankees recently has them sweating. It felt like that Yankees series all but sealed their fate: another trip back to New York for a Wild Card series rematch. Remember last year’s No. 4 and No. 5 seed showdown? Brutal. That seems like the most likely outcome again for 2026. If they stay the No. 5 seed, it’s another war against the Yankees. And if they somehow survive that, they’d face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS, another division rival they just can’t shake. Sure, Boston conquered that path in 2021, making an ALCS run, but the source says this year’s clash with those division rivals would be just as draining. Their pitching staff is tiring, and veterans are getting breathers, so the thought of that gauntlet has to be haunting them.
Falling Back to No. 6? It’s Not as Crazy as It Sounds
Here’s where it gets wild, and where our Mariners’ win might inadvertently help them out. If the Red Sox keep faltering, maybe they get passed by a team like the Cleveland Guardians, who are 4.5 games back, and find themselves as the No. 6 seed. And honestly, it might be the least worst option for them. If Boston claws their way into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, they’d snatch their first consecutive berths since 2016-2018. But more importantly, the competition gets *way* less daunting. They’d face the winner of the American League West, which right now is the Houston Astros, sitting just two games above .500 at 71-69. The source says take the bat out of Yordan Alvarez’s hands, and Boston *should* take care of business. From there, they’d see the AL Central champ Chicago White Sox, a young team that’s outperformed expectations. Plus, there are some familiar faces on the White Sox who are “extra motivated” to eliminate Boston after the Garrett Crochet trade two winters ago. Even with that added fire, the Red Sox are still seen as the better team, meaning another “should take care of business” series win.
Playing Chess During the Mariners Series?
Now, the Red Sox aren’t *trying* to back into the playoffs with a “loser mentality,” but what they did during the Seattle series tells you everything you need to know about where their heads are at. They gave Willson Contreras a breather on the IL and pushed back Sonny Gray’s start! They clearly thought they had enough cushion, maybe even underestimated our M’s a little bit. That was the right call, according to the source, because those guys need to be fresh for a playoff run. They also have Roman Anthony and Trevor Story getting in rhythm at the plate, with Garrett Crochet and Tanner Houck nearing a return to bolster the rotation. Even though our boys contributed to their slide, Boston still has a big four-game set against the Baltimore Orioles coming up. They need to figure out their path, fresh or not, because the postseason isn’t for the faint of heart, no matter how easy the road looks on paper.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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