“I think we should stop talking October,” said the man with the blueprint while the club is on its way to its first playoff season in four years. However, looking at Boston’s recent games against their archrivals, the Yankees, it’s not that simple. The Red Sox have lost again, 5-3. What’s wrong? Almost everything. They keep falling behind early, chasing late, and coming up short. Amid all this chaos, Alex Bregman, the team’s veteran voice, offered very simple yet urgent advice.

The Yankees series has become a nightmare for Boston. In Game 1, they couldn’t jump ahead early, and in Game 2, they let chances slip away. Bregman had some good moments in Saturday’s game, including a solo home run, but he also felt the pressure, tried too hard, and didn’t gain enough momentum or lead. The team’s efforts appeared more reactive than aggressive. That’s exactly what Bregman wants to fix.

After the loss, speaking to reporters, Bregman sent out a clear message. He started by focusing on what’s next: “I’m just focused on tomorrow, trying to win the baseball game tomorrow. That’s it.” He added, “I feel like everyone in here knows that the most important pitch is tomorrow, the first pitch of the game, and then move on to the next one.”

When asked about advice on not pressing or trying too hard, he said, “You can start swinging harder, trying to do more. You can start trying to throw harder and miss over the middle of the plate. I think it’s just slow it down, execute, and sometimes less is more.” He added, “I feel like that’s something that we need to do a little bit better job of.” Bregman wrapped up by saying, “Just keep plugging along, keep going. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played, obviously. We just got to get back to executing.”

Bregman’s advice couldn’t be more timely as Boston’s struggles run deep. They managed only two hits in Game 1, losing 4-1, and in Game 2, they were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base and losing 5-3. And their pitching hasn’t held steady either.

Boston hasn’t been able to avoid falling behind early on the mound. Bello gave up four runs in only five innings during Game 2. Falling behind quickly has been a recurring concern. With the playoffs looming closer, all these losses sting even more.

The math is tight regarding playoffs, and the urgency is growing. Boston is currently 81-68, with a 90% chance of making the playoffs according to FanGraphs, good enough for a wild-card spot. But they trail the Yankees for the top wild card. With just 13 games left, the Red Sox sit 5.5 games behind in their division. Losing to the Yankees again will make catching up for home-field advantage very difficult. Meanwhile, teams like Seattle and Texas are just behind them. Every mistake now could mean missing the postseason altogether—a clear wake-up call.

And that’s exactly what Cora said: “There’s a lot of stuff going on, and we have to play better. I’m not saying we’re in a bad spot, but I think we have to wait to see if October is part of this.”

With Alex Bregman’s experienced voice providing steady leadership and Cora offering a reality check, Boston still has time to save their season—but only if they start performing. Amid all this, some encouraging news on the offensive front could ease their path.

Red Sox receive encouraging news: Wilyer Abreu nearing comeback

The Red Sox finally received some good news amid the struggles. Before the first game of the Yankees series at Fenway, outfielder Wilyer Abreu spoke to the media, sounding optimistic about returning before the regular season ends. He made it clear he’s been working hard and might be back on the field soon.

“I’m waiting for the trainers to let me play,” Abreu said. “I’ve been hitting. I’ve been doing everything. The progression of running has been good. Hopefully, I’m playing very soon.” His confidence was a positive boost for a team desperate for good news.

Abreu acknowledged the recovery has taken longer than expected, but his main goal is to be 100% ready to help. Boston is pushing for the playoffs, so his bat and energy could be crucial down the stretch. He said a return as soon as next week is possible.

Manager Alex Cora agreed, noting the team expects Abreu back once he reaches about 90% effort. Boston desperately needs another healthy and reliable option—and Abreu fits that bill perfectly.