It’s been a while since the Boston Red Sox fans had a reason to smile. They, after all, dropped four of their last six games, watching the division title slip away and even risking their grip in the wild card race. The offense was not there, the energy all over was drained, and fans were simply frustrated. But then a miracle.

Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays felt like a high sigh of relief for the team. They didn’t just win; they essentially broke free with that 11-7 victory. It was not just perfect; it was full of life, and the Boston dugout’s enthusiasm and all-teeth smiles said it all. The bats had woken up, and for the first time in weeks, this looked like a team that was capable of making some noise in October.

Ceddane Rafaela, who has been ice cold for a while, broke free with a 4-for-5 showing. Jarren Duran was the star, who crushed the go-ahead homer in the seventh and turned the energy and game completely. And just as important as them, Alex Bregman finally looked like the veteran he is. After weeks of nothing, he launched his second homer of the month in the third inning, too. And after the game, he had a message for other teams.

Bregman put the night into perspective: “I feel like the mentality here is we don’t want to just get into the playoffs. We want to play well in the playoffs and go play for another month…So for us, I feel like getting back to playing our best brand of baseball on a consistent basis is super important. So that’s why I feel like the last few days [of struggling] could be good for us. We can learn a lot from it. And I feel like this team is ready to roll.” And he is not wrong; the team seems ready—there is definitely an attitude change.

Seven different players knocked in runs, and nearly the entire lineup crossed the plate. This is after weeks of stranded runners and missed chances—so definitely it was a big night—a night of statement. And sure, one night does not erase all the inconsistencies that got them here. But this is a sport with 162 games, and there are downs as well as ups. What matters is when the team gets hot and gets going—and if Boston momentum hits right about now, it’s a pretty good time. Alex Bregman’s message to the AL was clear—they are not just trying to get into October; they are aiming further. But to do that, they might need key players post-season. Let’s take a look!

The “difference makers” Boston Red Sox need in October

If the Boston Red Sox want to go deep into the postseason, then figuring out what the roster is going to look like is going to be crucial. Sure, the stars will all be there—the everyday guys who everyone has watched all season long. But if you know anything about playoff baseball, you know that it’s not just the big names who matter. Sometimes it’s the role players, the secret weapons that go on to flip that script. And Boston has a few of them waiting.

Take, for example, Romy Gonzalez and Rob Refsnyder. Sure, their names are not as flashy as the rest, but they can smash the lefties. Refsnyder owns a .983 OPS against southpaws, which is eye-watering. Gonzalez is even better at .992. These are the kind of numbers that would make opposing managers think twice about bringing in their creme de la creme left-handed relievers.

Another name the Boston Red Sox can bring in is Nathaniel Lowe. Washington had DFA’d Lowe, and Boston happily took him off their hands. He is not tearing up completely, but against the right-handed pitching, he has been steady at .265 for his career. He is also putting up decent numbers this season: .243/.320/.427. And most importantly, he gives the team flexibility, which is priceless in October baseball.

Lastly, there is David Hamilton. He, it seems, is not here to sprint but rather to fly. He has a 29.3 feet per second average sprint speed, which is amazing. It stands in the 94th percentile in baseball. Hamilton honestly has the kind of game-changing speed that can steal a run when it matters the most.

So, the Boston Red Sox don’t need just stars this October—they need these secret weapons too.