The Boston Red Sox have been a juggernaut since the turn of the century.
After 85 years of suffering, the team snapped its infamous World Series drought in 2004.
And since then, the organization hasn’t slowed down.
Boston captured its second title of the 21st century in 2007, its third in 2013, and its fourth in 2018.
This season, the Red Sox are looking for another.
And if they want it to happen, they’re going to have to start by eliminating the New York Yankees in tonight’s AL Wild Card Game.
The Red Sox Weren’t Supposed To Contend In 2021, But Here They Are
Boston was not a popular pick to make the playoffs before the 2021 season started.
In fact, most sportsbooks expected the team to finish somewhere around .500.
Maybe the Red Sox took that personally, because the club exceeded all expectations in the regular season.
Sure, it was rocky at times, and sure, Boston just barely nabbed a Wild Card bid.
But all things considered, a 92-70 campaign is very impressive for a team that wasn’t supposed to contend.
Now that the Red Sox are in the postseason, they’re playing with house money.
That’s a dangerous club to face in the playoffs.
Will Boston Escape The Wild Card Game?
Before the Red Sox can start thinking about another World Series title, they’re going to have to make it out of the AL Wild Card Game.
That’s no small task.
The Red Sox do have the benefit of hosting the Yankees in tonight’s do-or-die matchup, but New York has a couple of key factors working in its favor.
One, the Yankees have their ace Gerrit Cole on the mound.
Boston is rolling with its ace, too, in the form of Nathan Eovaldi, but the Yankees likely have the edge in the pitching matchup.
Two, Boston is going to be without J.D. Martinez in tonight’s game.
The slugger is dealing with an ankle injury, and he won’t be available.
It’s going to take an inspired effort from the Red Sox to knock off New York, but anything can happen in one game.
This Is Boston’s First Time Playing In The Single-Elimination Wild Card Game
Since the single-elimination Wild Card Game format was introduced in 2012, the Red Sox have been able to avoid it.
They have either won the AL East or missed the playoffs entirely in every year since 2012.
But as of 2021, that trend is over.
In a few hours, Boston will finally find itself in the single-elimination game.
The Wild Card Game isn’t the most desirable place for any club to be, but to state the obvious, it’s infinitely better than missing the playoffs.
All you can ask for is a shot, and that’s what the Red Sox gave themselves by earning a Wild Card bid.
Nerves will surely be running high in Boston as the game gets closer to first pitch, because this is a very unfamiliar feeling for fans of the Red Sox.
Sure, the team has been involved in countless do-or-die playoff games over the years, but never on the first day of the postseason.
Time will tell how the night will unfold.
Will Boston live to see another day?
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