Realistically, tonight is not a must win and the Sox face another O's pitcher, on a losing record team ( 58-67), who has an a sub 3. ERA and 1.28 WHIP over his last 3 games, and who is 10-5 for the season. BUT, it feels like a must win in the sense that Sox have given up a couple winnable games recently .
The Final Forty started with the Sox at 66-56 , and have gone 2-2 since then against teams with losing records, at home. If they continue with win one, lose one through the 40, they would finish 86-76, a marked improvement over '22, '23', '24 but not what they should be capable of.
Although KC and Detroit made last years WC round with 86 wins, why be hanging on the doorstep in case some team(s) pulls off 87+ ?