RED SOX/MLB UPDATE

by: Jackson Elkins

   Since the end of last week and the beginning of this week, the Boston Red Sox looked to be turning it around and trying to squeak into one of those Wild Card spots in the American League. The Sox swept the Texas Rangers in a four game skid. The first game in the series was a nailbiter, Boston won in a comeback scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth off a Rob Refsnyder walkoff hit as the Sox won 9-8. That seemed to spark something as in the next three games they won 9-1, 5-3, and 5-2. That would come to an end as they traveled down to Florida to play against the Tampa Bay Rays. Game one started strong but the Sox could not get it down as they fell 4-3, and then carried on to lose game two 8-4. The series ended in a 1-0 win from the Rays as the Red Sox got swept, having a record of 4-3 in their last seven games.

    With just about a month left this season, the playoffs are in sight. There will be 12 teams in the postseason, six from the American League and six from the National League. Each of the division winners, and three wild cards from each league will make it into the postseason. Currently in the AL the division leaders are the Houston Astros (AL West), New York Yankees (AL East), and the Cleveland Guardians (AL Central). The teams who currently hold the top three Wild Card spots are the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays. Teams currently “in the hunt” are the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and the Boston Red Sox.

    In the National League, the three division leaders are the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), Atlanta Braves (NL East), and the St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central). The top Wild Card spots currently belong to the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres. Teams “in the hunt” are Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants.

    On the other hand, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 695th home run over the weekend putting him one home run shy of tying Alex Rodriguez for fourth all time. If Albert Pujols hits five more by the end of the year he will be the fourth player to reach the 700 career home run milestone. The three that have done it are Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762).