The Red Sox are in trouble.
The Rays beat up on the Yankees last night, pulling within two games of the wild-card lead with six to play.
With Boston playing like a Triple-A team, that’s an eternity. But the odds are still in the Sox’ favor.
Here’s a handy table of the way the rest of the season can play out.
If Boston goes 6-0 …
They clinch the wild card regardless of what Tampa Bay does.
If Boston goes 5-1 …
They clinch the wild card regardless of what Tampa Bay does.
If Boston goes 4-2 …
The Rays could force a one-game playoff by winning out. Tampa Bay would be eliminated if it went 5-1 or worse over its remaining six games.
If Boston goes 3-3 …
The Rays could force a one-game playoff by going 5-1, or win the spot outright by going 6-0. Tampa Bay would be eliminated if it won four or fewer games.
If Boston goes 2-4 …
The Rays could force a one-game playoff by going 4-2, or win the spot outright by going 5-1 or 6-0. Tampa Bay would be eliminated if it won three or fewer games.
If Boston goes 1-5 …
The Rays could force a one-game playoff by going 3-3, or win the spot outright by going 4-2, 5-1 or 6-0. Tampa Bay would be eliminated if it won two or fewer games.
If Boston goes 0-6 …
The Rays could force a one-game playoff by going 2-4, or win the spot outright by going 3-3, 4-2, 5-1 or 6-0. Tampa Bay would be eliminated if it won one or zero games.
