Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays battle for late-season playoff positioning
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 4:07 PM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026
The Red Sox remain 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the Wild Card race as the 2026 Major League Baseball season enters its final month. Because the Yankees hold the tie-breaker and maintain a three-game lead in the loss column, Boston faces a significant deficit in the postseason hunt. Meanwhile, the first-place Rays hold a four-game lead over the Yankees but face a difficult closing schedule that includes games against the Braves, Astros, Athletics, Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies. Gerrit Cole continues to lead the Yankees rotation despite allowing three consecutive home runs in a recent outing against the Padres, becoming the first pitcher in baseball history to record that feat twice. Both the Yankees and Red Sox remain focused on closing the gap with the division-leading Rays during the remaining regular-season schedule.
- •The Red Sox trail the Yankees by 2.5 games in the American League Wild Card standings.
- •The Rays hold a four-game lead over the Yankees for the division lead.
- •Gerrit Cole became the only pitcher in baseball history to allow three home runs to start a game twice.
- •The Yankees possess a tie-breaker advantage over the Red Sox.
- 4:07 PMYahoo Sports — Gerrit Cole sets unwanted new MLB record with disastrous first inning of Yankees loss
- 1:30 PMYahoo Sports — Red Sox, Yankees, Rays jockeying for playoff position
"Gerrit Cole has added an unwanted entry to MLB history after becoming the only pitcher to allow back-to-back-to-back home runs to the first three batters of a game more than once in his career. The latest occurrence came against the San Diego Padres, who immediately put Cole under pressure with three consecutive home runs to open the game.
"Good morning! Gerrit Cole allowed three consecutive home runs to start yesterday’s game against the Padres. Thankfully for Cole, he’s actually used to this — he had already done it once before and is now the only pitcher in baseball history to have done it twice. Historic lolz, Gerrit! Kermit’s faceplant and the fact that […]
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 7, 2026, 4:07 PMGerrit Cole sets unwanted new MLB record with disastrous first inning of Yankees loss
Gerrit Cole has added an unwanted entry to MLB history after becoming the only pitcher to allow back-to-back-to-back home runs to the first three batters of a game more than once in his career. The latest occurrence came against the San Diego Padres, who immediately put Cole under pressure with three consecutive home runs to open the game.
- Yahoo SportsSep 7, 2026, 1:30 PMRed Sox, Yankees, Rays jockeying for playoff position
Good morning! Gerrit Cole allowed three consecutive home runs to start yesterday’s game against the Padres. Thankfully for Cole, he’s actually used to this — he had already done it once before and is now the only pitcher in baseball history to have done it twice. Historic lolz, Gerrit! Kermit’s faceplant and the fact that […]
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