The 2026 Red Sox reached the playoffs by leveraging contributions from 56 players, many in unconventional roles, filling gaps left by injuries with depth pieces who stepped up at key moments. news sports entertainment obituaries subscribe

September 29, 2026 The MassLive Red Sox Newsletter Red Sox How Red Sox used ‘village’ of 56 players, even in ‘weird ways,’ to make playoffs The 2026 Red Sox reached the playoffs by leveraging contributions from 56 players, many in unconventional roles, filling gaps left by injuries with depth pieces who stepped up at key moments. By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com Read more Red Sox Yankees starter motivated by Red Sox fans: ‘I’m good at keeping receipts’ Yankees starter Cam Schlittler knows what Red Sox fans have said about him on social media. "I’m good at keeping receipts." By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com MORE    Red Sox Will Garrett Crochet be on Red Sox roster for ‘slobberknocker?’ Willson Contreras update (notebook) Several questions still remain for the Red Sox heading into Tuesday, including whether Garrett Crochet — who started last year’s Wild Card Game 1 for Boston — will be on the roster for this potential slobberknocker of a series. By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com MORE    Red Sox Red Sox’ Payton Tolle and Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Game 1 starters, are studies in contrast Red Sox starter Payton Tolle and Yankees starter Cam Schlittler share similar arsenals but contrasting personalities as they prepare to face off in Game 1 of the AL wild card series. By Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com MORE    Red Sox Red Sox’ Braiden Ward waiting to hear if he’ll have his pinch-running moment; ‘It’s a fever dream’ Braiden Ward, a minor league speedster with 61 stolen bases, awaits word on whether he'll join Boston's postseason roster solely as a pinch-runner against the Yankees. By Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com MORE    Red Sox Red Sox announce Wild Card Series starting rotation; rookie to pitch Game 1 Rookie Payton Tolle will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series for the Red Sox, manager Chad Tracy announced Monday. By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com and Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com MORE    See more     Get Back to What You've Missed   Unlimited Digital Access   $1 for the first month   Subscribe Now     Cancel anytime.