MLB Playoff Picture: Wild Card Race Comes Down to One Game for Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox gave their fans a scare Tuesday night when they almost blew their game against the Baltimore Orioles, but in the end, they were able to come away with the victory.

Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Rays won their game against the New York Yankees as well and now the Red Sox and Rays are tied for the AL Wild Card lead with one game remaining.

If both teams win or both lose on Wednesday night, there will be a playoff game at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay to decide the wild card winner. The Red Sox need to do everything in their power to stay away from the playoff game and earn their playoff spot on Wednesday. No team wants to play a one-game playoff in an away game, and this situation is no exception.

In Wednesday night's game against the Orioles, the Red Sox are sending Jon Lester to the hill and hopefully he can be the ace we all know he can be. A win would solidify at least a share of the wild card lead and keep Boston's hopes alive for yet another day.

Lester could make the game very easy if he pitches a gem, but in any case, he is still going to need some help—and it cannot all come from Jacoby Ellsbury.

Ellsbury has been a machine as of late, especially when he solidified a win against the Yankees on Sunday with a three-run blast in the 14th inning. Ellsbury homered again on Tuesday, his 32nd of the season, but he will need help from guys like Ryan Lavarnway if they want to pull out the victory.

Ryan Lavarnway, a rookie catcher who has just been called up from Pawtucket, hit two home runs on Sunday night. Looking back at the final score of the game, his four RBI were pivotal, and without them the Red Sox could have very easily lost the game. Boston needs more unsung heroes such as Lavarnway to start stepping up offensively, and it needs to start on Wednesday night.

If Boston does get the victory, it will need some help from the Yankees. The Rays may win and there is nothing the Red Sox can do but put up a good fight in a playoff game. But should the Rays lose, Boston is in the postseason.

In any case, Red Sox fans need to swallow their pride and cheer on the Yankees for one game, because it is for the greater good.

There is a lot of anticipation heading into Wednesday night and maybe, just maybe, the Red Sox will get lucky for the first time in September and sneak into the playoffs. 

Let's hope they don't blow it—like they managed to blow its nine-game lead in a 23-day span.