Overview

• Boston sits at 75-60, 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East and 2.5 games ahead of the Yankees for the top wild-card slot, according to standings through Aug. 28.
• The Red Sox activated right-hander Justin Slaten from the 60-day injured list to reinforce an AL-leading bullpen that owns a 3.39 ERA.
• Aroldis Chapman has anchored late innings with a 0.87 ERA in the ninth and a run allowed since July 23, supported by setup arms Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Wilson.
• A four-game sweep of the Orioles pushed Boston to 15 games over .500 for the first time since 2021, underscoring the club’s post–All-Star surge.
• In the NL, the Mets hold the final wild-card spot with a four-game edge on the Reds, and FanGraphs pegs Cincinnati’s playoff odds at roughly 3%, signaling a largely settled field.