Of course neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox are in first place as they begin a four-game series on Thursday night at the Stadium. Somehow this still feels like the beginning of an abbreviated

For MLB insider Joel Sherman, he believes the four-game set is a “ real measuring stick ” for the Yankees for five reasons. The Red Sox are 41-24 at Fenway Park. So should the two teams meet in the Wild Card series, the Yankees would benefit by having the games in the Bronx and not in Boston.

The Red Sox had won 10 of 12 games and Roman Anthony hit a double in the ninth inning against the Padres to tie the game 4-4. Simmons hit send shortly before the Padres scored in the 10th to win the game. They have dropped seven of 10 games since he tweeted this:

If the Red Sox keep playing like this, though, it threatens to be an awfully short October — assuming they qualify. The Sox dropped another stunner, 4-3, in 11 innings to the Orioles, after leaving the bases loaded in the eighth, ninth, and 10th innings.

So long, Isaiah Campbell. The Red Sox demoted the struggling reliever back down to Worcester ahead of the pivotal series with the Yankees this weekend. Richard Fitts, who has been a starter all season will make his way back up to the big leagues and pitch out of the bullpen.

The Red Sox are in the midst of a playoff race and cannot afford to blow games to inferior foes like Baltimore. Thursday’s decision loomed especially large since Cowser fired a poor throw to the plate that likely would have allowed Eaton to score to tie the game.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler continued his trend of saying the right things after failing to do the job on the mound.