Boston’s final game against the Cubs will decide whether it finishes with 87 or 88 wins; a three-game Wild Card series at the Yankees starts Tuesday. The writer says losing in New York would not count as success; Boston has not won a playoff series in five years.
Last season, Boston was also the fifth seed and lost a three-game series to the Yankees. Willson Contreras’s status is uncertain because of hand pain. Potential replacement Mickey Gasper is out with a “pretty significant” biceps injury, while Garrett Crochet is attempting to return in a relief role despite not being at full strength.
The article also says the season’s result was enough for management to pick up Craig Breslow’s options for 2029 and 2030 and sign Chad Tracy to a three-year contract after the season.
