The Boston Red Sox are headed back to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Ceddanne Rafaela walked off the Detroit Tigers to clinch a Wild Card spot and ensure the Red Sox would be playing October baseball. It’s unclear who the team will face in the first round, but they’ll travel on Monday to begin a three-game playoff series on Tuesday.
The roster is full of young players, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been there before. He was with the Houston Astros during their 2017 World Series run and led the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series. While making the playoffs for the first time in several years is an accomplishment, the team isn’t satisfied.
“We didn’t come here to play only 162, we came here to win the World Series,” Cora said, as seen on the NESN postgame show.
Rafaela was the hero, but it took the entire roster to win on Friday. After a short start from Kyle Harrison, the Red Sox used six relievers to keep the deficit at three.
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“Today was a perfect example of a team win,” Cora said. “Everyone contributed. From the guys playing to the guys in the dugout to the clubbies, to everyone.”
By clinching on Friday, the Red Sox can use the rest of the weekend to set up their roster for Tuesday. Lucas Giolito was lined up to start on Sunday, but he can be given extra rest. A few more days could be big for the veteran, who has seen his velocity dip over the past few outings.
Garrett Crochet also won’t be needed on short rest and will be lined up to start on Tuesday. In a short series, it gives the Red Sox a leg up to advance to the divisional round.
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