Time is running out for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, with each of them thinking of a sweep when they meet for the first of six remaining matchups.
The third- and fourth-place teams in the American League East — spots they have held much of the season — will meet in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday night to begin a three-game series.
Entering a nearly must-win series at the first-place New York Yankees late last week, the Red Sox (75-75) lost three out of four, including a pair of one-run outcomes in the first two contests.
Boston rocked New York ace Gerrit Cole in a 7-1 rout on Saturday behind three RBIs from Masataka Yoshida and a team-leading 14th win from Brayan Bello, but the devastation of winning just once left the Red Sox’s outlook gloomy.
“It wasn’t like it was a bad series because we lost three out of four,” manager Alex Cora said. “We were in every game. Every game was a close one, but that’s not enough in this league. You don’t get wins by playing tough games. You get W’s when you win games. And we didn’t do it.”
Entering Monday’s off day, Boston sat 4 1/2 games back of the final wild-card position currently held by the Minnesota Twins.
With a dozen games left, Cora’s club would need to pass the Detroit Tigers, the Seattle Mariners and one of the three wild-card teams to earn a postseason berth.
Boston could get some starting pitching back later in the series as Tanner Houck, who has tossed a career-high 169 2/3 innings, may return to the rotation after last pitching on Sept. 4 due to shoulder fatigue.
Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.24 ERA) gets the nod in the opener. The righty has been sharp in two September starts (0-0, 1.50) with nine hits allowed, 15 strikeouts and four walks in 12 innings.
Against the Rays, Pivetta is 1-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 12 games (11 starts).
Tampa Bay (73-77) is in a worse situation with 12 games remaining after a disastrous 4-6 road trip through Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland, which included a three-game sweep by the Phillies.
The Rays entered Monday 6 1/2 games behind the Twins for the final wild-card slot.
That stretch left manager Kevin Cash’s squad 18-25 since the July 30 trade deadline and 25-29 post All-Star break, essentially dooming their playoff chances with a much tougher schedule than the first half.
In a consistently mediocre 2024, the Rays have watched their record slot into a range between five games below and three games above .500.
“We’ve been in a situation for a month where we’ve needed to win every series and win some of these tight games,” said Cash, whose group has held down fourth place for 89 straight days. “We haven’t, but I feel like the intensity has been there.”
Right-hander Shane Baz (2-3, 3.28) will extend his career high in starts with his 12th on Tuesday when he faces the Red Sox for the first time.
In two starts this month totaling 11 1/3 innings, the Houston native is 0-1 with a 2.38 ERA, but his numbers have been better than his record.
Baz has recorded nine strikeouts and four walks and allowed just five hits in that stretch. He has also surrendered two home runs.
