How to buy 2026 Boston Red Sox MLB playoff tickets, Red Sox postseason scenarios - USA Today
The Red Sox may be popping bottles in a locker room at Tropicana Field, but the celebration comes after back-to-back losses to the American League East division leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays.
I'm not sure if Red Sox fans are celebrating nearly guaranteeing the Rays the division title, but also pushing the title farther from the reach of longtime rival, the New York Yankees. But, they are celebrating nonetheless. Despite the 5-1 loss today, the Red Sox clinched a postseason spot with the Houston Astros loss to the Atlanta Braves.
As of publication, the Boston Red Sox have clinched a playoff spot which is guaranteed to be one of three spots in the American League Wild Card race, as the team was already eliminated from the AL East division title race. The Red Sox have just six games left to play before the postseason starts, including series against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago Cubs. Here's a breakdown of the Boston Red Sox playoff scenarios:
Note: Keep in mind, these are still potential playoff scenarios, but if you purchase tickets and the game does not happen, StubHub refunds your purchase.
The Red Sox are a confirmed Wild Card spot, but their opponent is still to be determined in the last week of play. The New York Yankees are still hoping for a shot at the AL East title. With 85 wins, the Red Sox are unlikely to host the wild card series unless they can catch the Yankees in the race, they currently sit more than five games back. If they end up with the better record, they would host all three games at Fenway Park.
Should the Boston Red Sox advance to the ALDS, home-field advantage for the best-of-five series would go to the higher-ranked team. The current path for the Red Sox through the playoffs runs through division rivals, the Yankees in the wild card and the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. At the very least, the Red Sox would be hosting Game 3 and Game 4, if they make it to the ALDS.
If the Red Sox advance to the American League Championship Series, it becomes a best-of-seven game series with the winner heading to the World Series. The higher seeded team will host Game 1, Game 2, Game 6 and Game 7, if necessary.
It's been nearly a decade for the Red Sox organization, who last saw the World Series when they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. Not only is it a long road, but American League team's have a lower chance of earning home-field advantage when National League team's are nearing 100 wins. Should Boston advance to the World Series, they could host up to four games:
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