With a magic number of one entering play on Thursday the Red Sox, well, you know. They didn’t play very well. After a brief surge of excitement to win the first two they went back to middling pitching and quiet bats. The Astros won. The Tigers won. And that coveted playoff spot remained unclaimed.

Boston needs just one win to make it to October. Or a loss by the Astros to the Angels. And the Tigers stand in their way. The Astros need to win out while the Red Sox lose out in order to keep Boston from October. Of course 2011, 1978, etc. etc. etc. Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Detoit won’t make it easy: Boston sends two of the more inexperienced pitchers against the Tigers who are ready to close the series with the ace and (probable) Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal.

Casey Mize is having a

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