Boston will try to extend its last-gasp effort at a playoff spot when it faces Tampa Bay on Monday afternoon. The Red Sox have rattled of five consecutive wins, but they are still well behind in the American League Wild Card race. Tampa Bay currently occupies one of those AL Wild Card positions and is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Yankees on Sunday.
Boston has been on four separate three-game losing streaks during the second half of the season, which has pushed the Red Sox well out of a playoff position. They are trying to make a late push at a spot in the postseason over the past week, winning a game against Minnesota and then four against Texas over the weekend. The Red Sox are on a six-game road trip that concludes in Baltimore this coming weekend. They are still 7.5 games back of Toronto for the final AL Wild Card spot. There are three other teams ahead of them that are still outside of the playoff hunt as well, so there is a very low chance for them to make a run.
Story, Bogaerts combine for 6 hits as #RedSox sweep Rangers.
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— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 4, 2022
The Red Sox have been a phenomenal offensive team, ranked third in the majors in batting average (.260). Shortstop Xander Bogaerts leads the way with 151 hits, while second baseman Rafael Devers has 25 home runs. They will be facing a Tampa Bay pitching staff that ranks third in the majors with an ERA of 3.27. Right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha is going to start for Boston on Monday. He picked up a win over Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven across six innings. Wacha has a career-low strikeout rate this season, but he is on pace for career-best marks in ERA (2.56) and WHIP (1.02).