Red Sox Clinch No. 5 AL Wild-Card

The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on the final day of the 2025 regular season to clinch the No. 5 seed (second American League Wild Card) and a road start in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. José De León, called up from Triple-A that day, threw a career-high 6 2/3 innings (eight hits, three runs, three walks, eight strikeouts) to provide length and rest for Boston’s rotation. Detroit, which had led the AL Central much of the year, lost the division after a late Cleveland surge and rested several regulars — Chris Paddack started the finale. Boston is likely to open the Wild Card Series on the road (probably at Yankee Stadium unless Toronto/Yankees results alter matchups). Manager Alex Cora celebrated the club’s unexpected return to October, praised Garrett Crochet as an ace, and said young pitchers such as Connelly Early and Payton Tolle are under consideration for postseason roles. The six-team AL playoff field is set — Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners, Tigers, Guardians and Red Sox — while the Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016.