The Boston Red Sox still have a very steep climb ahead of them if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive in 2024.
While the Red Sox need to take care of their own business first, they do have a new team they're directly chasing: the Minnesota Twins.
Boston had been chasing the Kansas City Royals, who the Red Sox have a tiebreaker over, before they hopped Minnesota in the American League Central. Entering play on Wednesday night, the Red Sox trail the Twins by four games for the final American League wild-card spot.
The Twins host the Atlanta Braves for the series finale on Wednesday night where an ex-Red Sox ace has a prime chance to help Boston and boost hope for his former team.
The Twins do benefit from a lighter schedule down the stretch against just three playoff teams in the Royals, the Cleveland Guardians and end the season against the Baltimore Orioles.
If the teams stay within a few games of each other deeper into September, the spot could be decided when the Twins visit Fenway Park from Sept. 20-22. The teams will have a chance to make an impact, particularly Boston if the team can stay within three games of Minnesota entering that series.
Teams in front of Boston can always flip flop in the coming weeks, especially if the American League Central gets even tighter with its top three teams. For now, the Red Sox have their sight on this area of the scoreboard, only once they take care of their own business and find consistency in their play.
