The last-place Boston Red Sox believe they have a chance to make the playoffs after taking two of three games over the weekend from the New York Yankees.The Red Sox sit in the American League East cellar at 57-59, 15.5 games behind the first-place Yankees (72-43).
But Boston is just 4.5 games back in the American League Wild Card race.
Consider what the Sox were saying after Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Yankees. Per the Boston Globe:
Manager Alex Cora: “I think math-wise, obviously it looks challenging. But I still believe that we’re going to have one of those big runs. We’re going to pitch; we’re going to play good defense.”
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Starter Michael Wacha: “We’re getting healthy and we believe in what we’re doing. Let’s see where this goes.”
Red Sox analyst and one-time Yankees infielder Kevin Youkilis agrees, based on what he said Sunday on the KayRod Cast.
“You know, this game is wild. And we’ve seen it in so many facets of the game over the years. When a team gets hot in August and September, watch out.
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And now there’s so many Wild Card teams that can get in, you just never know what’s going to happen.”
FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 17.4% chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
But unless Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz are walking through the door, a playoff berth remains a long-shot at best.
The Boston Globe reports “The last-place Sox are 15-30 against the AL East.” Of the Red Sox’s final 46 games, 31 come against division opponents, including six against the Yankees.