In 2016, the Boston Red Sox won the American League East (93-69), but two other teams in the division also made the playoffs via the Wild Card. Toronto and Baltimore tied with 89 wins each and joined the postseason activities. Toronto eliminated Baltimore and eventually was dispatched by Cleveland who swept over Boston like a baseball tsunami.
The Wild Card offers opportunity and with neither the Yankees or Tampa showing signs of erosion it may be the only pathway available for Boston to have any postseason success. Each day as the calendar tosses off a page, the Wild Card standings take on added significance.