Red Sox Postseason Begins Tonight: What to Know
James Oatis
He/Him
Staff Writer
9/30/25
Ups and Downs: The Regular Season
To say the 2025 Boston Red Sox season has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. The season seemed bright at the beginning, with a promising start from players such as Kristian Campbell and newcomer Garrett Crochet. Then May arrived. First baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury, and longtime Red Sox third baseman (turned designated hitter) Rafael Devers was abruptly traded, marking the last player from Boston’s 2018 World Series team to leave.
The trade seemed to be a blow to the morale of the Red Sox, and many believed the season was over. But then the future arrived. Baseball’s top prospect, outfielder Roman Anthony, made the show after a mammoth 500ft home run with the Worcester Red Sox, and the Boston Red Sox had a hot run to the All-Star break.
After the break was a different story, as injuries to key players, including star third baseman Alex Bregman, made for a mixed rest of the season. When September came, and with it a competitive wild card race, it was crucial for Boston to win. Thanks to yet another clutch performance from center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, the Red Sox punched a ticket back to the postseason.
Red October: The Boston Red Sox This Postseason
For the first time since 2021, Red October has returned to New England. The Boston Red Sox will face the ever so loathsome New York Yankees in a 3-game wildcard series in the Bronx. Tonight’s Game 1 will feature ace Garrett Crochet pitching against the Yankees’s Max Fried. Throughout the series, it will be all about Boston’s offense. Players like Alex Bregman and Trevor Story need to step up as major injuries sideline players like Roman Anthony. The offense has been inconsistent throughout this season, and those inconsistencies cannot show up in the playoffs.
As for pitching, Boston’s young rotation also needs to be consistent to win. Crochet should be all set if the offense produces, but the main concerns are with Game 2 starter Brayan Bello, who has been inconsistent all season.
The Bronx Bombers: What the New York Yankees Need
After falling short last year, the New York Yankees are competing to win their first World Series since 2009. For the $300 million roster, hitting and pitching are not concerns with Aaron Judge and Max Fried. It is all about the defense, which has had many gaffes in big moments since the 2024 World Series. Players like Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. need to make fundamental plays, as the Red Sox have taken advantage of many Yankee gaffes to win games.
Predictions
Overall, the Boston Red Sox right now are dealing with too many injuries to key offensive and defensive players to make a deep postseason run. They are likely to win at least one game, but it is unlikely they will defeat a hot Yankees team. For New York, they are likely to make a run to the ALCS, but their defense and bullpen may catch up to them and prevent them from recapturing the pennant. Even with an early exit, the 2026 Red Sox should be a feared team with players like Casas and Anthony returning to the lineup. Currently the Boston Red Sox have +1800 odds to win the World Series, and if it were to happen, it would be sure to stir up the Red Sox faithful in Plymouth, as in 2007 and 2013.