TORONTO — The Athletics were a major thorn in the Red Sox’s side last week, taking two of three at Fenway Park to put Boston in an extremely uncomfortable position leading into the final week of the regular season.
But late Tuesday night, the A’s made it up to the Red Sox in a big way.
The Athletics beat the Houston Astros 5-1 in their series opener, dropping the Astros two games behind the Red Sox with five games to play.
Because the Red Sox also hold the tiebreaker, the Astros would actually have to make up three games to jump Boston in the standings.
That being the case, Boston’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is now three. If all breaks their way the Red Sox could potentially clinch a playoff spot as soon as Thursday.
Fangraphs now lists Boston’s playoff odds as 95.9%.
If the season ended today the Red Sox would hold the second American League Wild Card spot and would face the New York Yankees in the Bronx in the AL Wild Card round. The Yankees officially clinched a playoff spot Tuesday night but are only one game back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East race.
The Blue Jays were the first AL team to punch their ticket to the postseason, and the Seattle Mariners also clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday. Their magic number to win their first AL West title since 2001 is one.
Playoff picture
American League: 1. Toronto Blue Jays 90-67 (z), 2. Seattle Mariners 88-69 (z), 3. Cleveland Guardians 85-72, 4. New York Yankees 89-68 (z), 5. Boston Red Sox 86-71, 6. Detroit Tigers 85-72 … Houston Astros 84-73
National League: 1. Milwaukee Brewers 95-63 (x), 2. Philadelphia Phillies 92-65 (x), 3. Los Angeles Dodgers 88-69 (z), 4. Chicago Cubs 88-69 (z), 5. San Diego Padres 87-71 (z), 6. New York Mets 81-76 … Cincinnati Reds 80-77, Arizona Diamondbacks 80-77, St. Louis Cardinals 78-80, Miami Marlins 77-80, San Francisco Giants 77-81
(x) clinched division; (z) clinched playoff berth
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