The Boston Red Sox secured a spot in the postseason on Sunday, but the real work is only beginning.
The Red Sox have a date with the New York Yankees in a best-of-three Wild Card series in a couple of weeks. That will be the first team standing between the Red Sox and a trip to the fall classic. If they win that series, they will play another American League East team, the Tampa Bay Rays.
If they can beat those teams, they will have to play the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers or Houston Astros.
The path to the World series is loaded with taolent, but so are the Red Sox. They are on the side of the bracket that features the three best records in the American League. They know they have their work cut out for them, but they are confident. Breakout pitcher Payton Tolle, who could start Game 1 against the Yankees, thinks the team has everything it needs to go deep into October.
"I think we could make a run,” said Tolle, per The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. “I think we got the guys. I think we can get hot. We’re just going to continue to play the way that we play. That team baseball we’ve been having. I’m really just excited to be in this moment again with these guys.”
The Red Sox have enough stars to compete with anyone. Roman Anthony is back and healthy. How he performs in October could dictate how far the Red Sox go. On the pitching side of things, Tolle, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez will be asked to carry the load. They could have Garrett Crochet back as a reliever as well.