Red Sox Magic Number for 2026 Playoffs: Boston Earns Postseason Berth originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Red Sox were on the outside looking in to start the 2026 season. That changed with a 15-game winning streak in July, followed by another streak in August, making them the hottest team in baseball.
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On Sunday, Boston completed the stunning turnaround by officially clinching a playoff berth. Chad Tracy’s squad fell to Tampa Bay, but Houston‘s loss to Atlanta pushed the Red Sox into the postseason bracket.
Here’s a breakdown of the Red Sox’s remaining schedule and where the team is sitting in the AL wild-card standings.
Red Sox fans no longer have to worry about magic numbers. Boston is heading back to the playoffs.
(Current as of Sept. 20)
The Red Sox are sitting in the second wild-card spot behind the Yankees. They are unlikely to move from that position with only six games left on their schedule.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
W-L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
|
WC1
|
New York Yankees*
|
89-65
|
.578
|
+10.5
|
|
WC2
|
Boston Red Sox*
|
84-72
|
.538
|
+4.5
|
|
WC3
|
Chicago White Sox
|
79-76
|
.510
|
—
|
|
4
|
Houston Astros
|
77-79
|
.494
|
2.5
|
|
5
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
76-79
|
.490
|
3
|
|
6
|
Baltimore Orioles
|
75-80
|
.484
|
4
|
|
7
|
Detroit Tigers
|
73-82
|
.471
|
6
|
|
8
|
Seattle Mariners
|
72-83
|
.465
|
7
|
|
9
|
Minnesota Twins
|
72-83
|
.465
|
7
|
*Clinched postseason berth
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Here is the schedule for the Red Sox for the rest of September:
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Time (ET)
|
|
Sept. 22
|
vs. Guardians
|
6:45 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 23
|
vs. Guardians
|
7 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 24
|
vs. Guardians
|
6:45 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 25
|
vs. Cubs
|
7:10 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 26
|
vs. Cubs
|
7:15 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 27
|
vs. Cubs
|
3:05 p.m.
|
