Red Sox Clinch First Playoff Spot Since 2021 With Win Over Tigers Amid AL Wild-Card Race

The Boston Red Sox clinched their first postseason berth since 2021 after a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 win against the Detroit Tigers, highlighted by Ceddanne Rafaela's walk-off triple. Despite an up-and-down season and the midyear trade of star slugger Rafael Devers, Boston showed resilience with key contributions from players like Masataka Yoshida and a strong bullpen performance under manager Alex Cora's aggressive tactics. The Red Sox now hold a two-game lead over the Tigers and Houston Astros for the final American League wild-card spots, with just two games remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers, despite recent struggles and a significant late-season slide, remain in playoff contention, needing only a win or Astros losses to clinch a postseason spot. The Cleveland Guardians also remain in contention to win the AL Central by virtue of tiebreakers. The AL playoff race remains intense as teams vie for the last spots, with the Red Sox's late-season surge providing momentum heading into October.