As much as I hate the one-game, wild-card playoff format, I appreciate the change Major League Baseball made regarding the wild card.

Before 2012, there was only one wild-card team, which had the same status as a divisional winner and automatically reached the division series. Except for home-field advantage, winning the division did not mean as much.

Now, the wild-card teams must battle for one game (and it should be a best-of-three series) to play against division winners.

This makes matters a little uncomfortable for the Red Sox and Yankees – two teams destined for the playoffs, but now fighting to avoid being a wild card.

So, we have a race on our hands. Boston’s goal, of course, is to go beyond winning the division – something it has done the past two seasons – and advance in the playoffs, which is has not done since 2013.

This is a juggernaut Red Sox team. I don’t want to play into New England angst (at least, not too much), but there are concerns. Here’s my top-10 list:

• The Yankees. After Friday, the Red Sox had a 5 1/2-game lead and were four games ahead in the loss column. But New York has plenty of time to catch up, including 10 more head-to-head games (seven at Fenway). The Yankees’ offense is ridiculously powerful, with 161 home runs through Friday – 27 more than Boston. Eight Yankees regulars have at least nine homers, and their first basemen have combined for another 16. New York’s problem is starting pitching. Enter General Manager Brian Cashman. A deal is coming.

• Boston’s bullpen. Red Sox relievers have the third-best ERA in the league (3.24). That’s nice, but the Yankees and Astros are ranked 1-2, and the Indians just traded for an All-Star. Matt Barnes (2.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) has earned set-up duties in the eighth inning, leading to Craig Kimbrel. The Red Sox have depth, but a power left-hander would be nice; which is why Boston is one of several suitors for Baltimore’s Zach Britton.

• Chris Sale. His 2.23 ERA leads the league. But Sale traditionally fades in August (career 3.22 ERA) and September (3.78). His August ERA last year was 4.38. Boston has made it a point to give Sale some extra rest this season. We’ll see if it pays off.

• Second base. The Red Sox rank 12th out of 15 league teams in OPS from the second-base position (the Astros and Yankees are 1-2), and Dustin Pedroia is not coming back soon (if at all this year). Eduardo Nunez does not look comfortable there and lacks range. Brock Holt, who left Friday’s game because of a bruised knee, may platoon with Nunez, unless Nunez is needed at third base.

• Third base. Rafael Devers leads the league with 19 errors, and he’s coming off the disabled list after a sore shoulder. Devers has been inconsistent at the plate (.241 average, .715 OPS). Still, he is a 21-year-old rookie and he provides thump in the lineup (tied for fourth on the team with 14 home runs).

• Holes in the lineup. The offense can rely on the top of the order too much. We mentioned Devers’ ups-and-downs. Jackie Bradley Jr. (.210) and Christian Vazquez (.213) go into prolonged slumps. Sandy Leon is hitting .237 and Nunez is at .252. Acquiring Steve Pearce has helped (basically replacing Hanley Ramirez). Bradley has been benched more often lately against lefties, with J.D. Martinez playing the outfield.

• Starting consistency. David Price (4.17 ERA) has given up four or more runs in six of his 20 starts, including eight runs to the Yankees on July 1. Rick Porcello (4.13) also has allowed four earned runs or more in six of 20 starts, including eight runs in his last start. These guys are not robots. They are good pitchers, but on some days … you just don’t know what you’re going to get.

• Health. When Holt took a spike to the knee Friday night, it looked awful. He reportedly is day-to-day, but it shows the fragility of things. Vazquez may not return until September from surgery on a broken finger. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (ankle) is weeks away and, as mentioned, Pedroia is doubtful for this season. Pitcher Steven Wright may not come back, either.

• The Houston Astros. The defending champions, and the team that knocked out Boston last year, may again stand in the way of the Red Sox reaching the World Series. Houston is second to Boston in runs scored, and the Astros lead the league in ERA (2.92), with a potent rotation led by Justin Verlander (2.29), Gerrit Cole (2.52) and Charlie Morton (2.96).

• The Cleveland Indians. Sure, the Indians would be in fourth place if they were in the AL West. But Cleveland is good enough to be trouble in the playoffs, especially with the addition of reliever Brad Hand from San Diego.

If all goes well, Boston should reach the playoffs as division champions, and favorites to reach the World Series.

If all goes well? What could go wrong?

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

Related Stories