The Boston Red Sox's 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball (MLB) on Monday, 23rd September has mathematically kept them alive in the American League Wild Card race. They have a less than 1% chance to make it to the playoffs with just five games remaining for them. They can only hope that several permutations and combinations go their way.
How can the Boston Red Sox still qualify for the playoffs?
The second half of the season was not quite up to the mark for the Red Sox, as they would have thought. At the All-Star break, they were firmly at 53-43 and held the third Wild Card spot. On top of it, they had their chances at the AL East title as well.
At one point in time, the Baltimore Orioles were 5.0 games ahead. But they didn't up their game at the trade deadline and slowly fell out of the race as the season progressed. Meanwhile, the Orioles currently hold the first Wild Card spot.
The fight for the other two spots is between three teams that include Kansas City Royals, the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. One team has an outside chance and it is none other than the Seattle Mariners.
If the Red Sox make it through to the next round, they will need help from these four teams. Supposedly, if the Red Sox win their remaining five games, then they will need the Royals and Twins to at least win four games and hope the Mariners don't win more than three games.
The Royals and Twins need not worry as they face balanced squads. Whereas, Kansas City plays against the lower ranked teams such as Washington Nationals and NL Wild Card contender, Atlanta Braves.
Minnesota will play against NL East's last-placed Miami Marlins and Orioles. The Mariners can hope they can win three from their two remaining games against Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics.
Can the Boston Red Sox win five games on the trot?
Before everything, Alex Cora's team should first get five wins on the board. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Their pitchers have shown the intent with 2.73 ERA but their batting has let them down with an average of .216.
Even if they win their next two in Toronto, they will go against the likes of a tricky Tampa Bay Rays in their last three games. The Rays are also in a spot of bother as they see themselves with an uphill task. They need six wins and other results to favour them.
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