The Yankees and Red Sox aren’t just rivals in baseball; they’re in full-blown combat. Right now, it’s a white-knuckle September. Boston has beaten New York 8–2 in their last ten games, which shows that even the “Evil Empire” can be dethroned. With playoff seeding on the line and October looming closer, BoSox’s $120 million dynamo has just dropped a bomb.

Alex Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million agreement with the Red Sox in February 2025 from the Astros. His average annual pay is $40 million. Bregman has been everything Boston needed to turn their season around. His batting average is .279, he has 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, and an OPS of .835. So, when a proven World Series champion issues a warning, Fenway listens!

In Bob Nightengale’s recent USA Today column, Bregman didn’t mince words about the high-stakes situation facing both teams. “It’s a tough division, and obviously we’re a few games back right now, but we are still fighting for that division title,” Bregman declared. “If we finish strong, we can do it.”

The Red Sox, NYY, and Toronto are all in a tight race at the top of the AL East. With an 83–61 record, the Blue Jays are in first place, three games ahead of the Yankees (80–64) and the Red Sox (81–65). The Wild Card scenario is quite close: the Yankees currently hold a Wild Card spot, but with the Red Sox trailing by just 3.0 games, every game plays a crucial role and can flip the scenario anytime.

Moreover, the Mariners are behind them, then the Rangers and Guardians, all of whom might change the situation in a big way in these last few weeks.

Beyond the playoff implications, Bregman was also excited for the upcoming games against the Yankees. Reflecting on the intense competition, he said, “It’s so cool playing against those guys.” He described the matchups as “fun games, pressure-packed, great environment,” noting how fulfilling it was to live out a childhood dream by playing in October after watching those games on TV.

As playoffs loom, the Red Sox grapple with Abreu, Anthony & Gonzalez setbacks

The Red Sox timeline of misfortune begins with Wilyer Abreu, the team’s gold-glove-winning slugger who hit the most home runs and was a vital part of the offense. Alex Cora, the manager, said that Abreu is out with a right calf strain and there’s a “good chance to return next week. But not this weekend during the Yankees series.” This is bad news for Boston’s lineup as they approach a series that could define their season.

Then came the gut punch: Cora told WEEI that Roman Anthony, the rookie sensation and August’s Rookie of the Month, is likely to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. That means he might not come back until the Wild Card round, if the Sox make it that far.

Cora has had to change things up on the fly since both outfielders are hurt. As September chaos grows, he has pointed to a patchwork fill-in group of Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Sogard, Nate Eaton, and others moving into responsibilities they didn’t expect. The injury list goes on.

Romy Gonzalez has also been out of recent lineups because of pain in his left knee. Even though he was hitting well, he had to sit out Sunday’s game against Arizona. This absence affects infield stability as well.

What does it all mean? With playoffs coming and without Abreu and Anthony, the Red Sox lose significant power in their lineup. Gonzalez’s absence compounds the challenge. With the Yankees series starting on September 12th, it’s vital to see how the team performs under these setbacks.