Overview

• The Astros-Athletics game starts at 3:35 p.m. ET, so Houston losing would secure Boston’s berth before the Red Sox begin at 7:07 p.m. in Toronto.
• Boston’s magic number is 1 after a 7-1 win over the Blue Jays and Oakland’s 6-0 win over Houston on Wednesday.
• The Red Sox hold the second AL wild card with a three-game lead on the Astros and a two-game edge on the Tigers, with four games remaining.
• Brayan Bello is scheduled to start for Boston, while Toronto moved Shane Bieber to Friday and will open with reliever Louis Varland.
• A division title remains a long shot due to tiebreakers, and current seeding points to a likely road Wild Card Series, with the Yankees among possible opponents.