Tigers can still win AL Central, but Red Sox stand in way

Postseason play is ahead for both the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, but there is still one final regular-season game remaining for the teams on Sunday afternoon in Boston.

Game No. 162 on the schedule comes after a split in the first two games of the weekend, with each team's win clinching their respective American League playoff berth.

After Boston (88-73) walked off with a 4-3 Friday victory, Detroit (87-74) punched its ticket to October for a second straight season with a 2-1 Saturday win. The Tigers, who have won two of three since an eight-game losing streak, are also still alive for the AL Central title in a first-place tie with the Cleveland Guardians. However, Cleveland holds the tiebreaker.

"We have to play the whole schedule regardless -- good times, bad times, good stretches, bad stretches," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. "We've got to play a full season to get where we want to get to."

The Tigers celebrated Saturday thanks to designated hitter Jahmai Jones, whose go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning proved to be all the offense they would need. He is 7-for-15 over his last six games.

A second straight postseason now awaits Detroit for the first time since the end of a four-year run from 2011-14.

"I absolutely hated (watching Boston's celebration on Friday)," Jones said. "I hate losing. So when you feel like it's going to happen on night one, and it didn't, everybody kind of understood the kind of taste left in our mouth. ... We really focused on trying to get that win."

Hinch had Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA) in line to pitch Sunday if Detroit's playoff fate was still in question.

Right-hander Chris Paddack (5-11, 5.27) is now set to take the ball against a to-be-determined Red Sox starter, with Skubal saved for Tuesday's wild-card series opener.

Paddack is 1-1 with a 6.07 ERA in three career starts against the Red Sox, including one this past May while with the Minnesota Twins.

With Friday's results securing its status, Boston's lineup for the middle game of the series had David Hamilton leading off and regulars like Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Alex Bregman all sitting out.

The Red Sox could not take advantage of rookie left-hander Connelly Early's five solid innings as they managed just seven singles. They are just 6-11 in their last 17 home games while being on a 14-6 road run.

"They're hung over (from Friday's post-game celebration). That's the reality of it," Boston manager Alex Cora said.

There is plenty to celebrate.

Key offseason acquisitions like Bregman -- who has reached nine straight postseasons -- and Garrett Crochet raised the level of expectation in Boston. Despite plenty of adversity, the bar of playing in October was cleared for the first time since 2021.

"Up and down, trades, injuries, we kept going," Cora said. "And you have to let them know because over 162 to do (meet the team's expectations) is not easy and they accomplished that."

While it was a quieter Saturday for the offense, Ceddanne Rafaela had one of Boston's knocks and has hit in seven of his last eight games. Of course, the center fielder was the Friday hero with a walk-off triple in the ninth inning.

"When those moments come, I want to be there. I want to be the guy," Rafaela said.

After the first two days of this final regular-season series, Boston and Detroit both hope there are more of those moments to come.

--Field Level Media