Fenway Park, Boston, September 27, 2025
News Summary
The Boston Red Sox secured a spot in the American League wild-card playoffs with a thrilling 4-3 walk-off win against the Detroit Tigers. The decisive moment came in the bottom of the ninth inning when Ceddanne Rafaela hit a walk-off triple at Fenway Park. This victory marks the Red Sox’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, as they celebrated their 12th walk-off of the season, altering the playoff landscape for both teams.
Boston
The Boston Red Sox clinched an American League wild-card playoff berth with a dramatic walk-off victory over the Detroit Tigers, defeating Detroit 4-3 on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Fenway Park. The game-winning play came on a walk-off triple from Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the ninth, securing the Red Sox their first playoff spot since 2021 and marking the club’s 12th walk-off of the season.
Key game details
The matchup began at 7:10 p.m. EDT and was streamed live on Apple TV+. The Tigers entered the game with a record of 86-73 while the Red Sox were 87-72 prior to the contest. After the result, the Red Sox improved to 88-72 and the Tigers fell to 86-74.
Starting pitchers and game flow
Detroit’s probable starter was Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 131 strikeouts) and Boston’s probable starter was Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA, 32 strikeouts). The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead but were unable to hold it as Boston rallied to score four runs and secure the walk-off winner.
Standings and playoff implications
The victory clinched the Red Sox an American League wild-card playoff berth. The Tigers are now tied for first in the AL Central but the Cleveland Guardians have the tiebreaker advantage. The Tigers also hold a half-game lead over the Houston Astros for the final playoff spot. The remainder of the regular season includes pivotal matchups affecting playoff seeding across multiple teams.
Team performance and statistics
Pre-game betting lines listed the Red Sox as favorites at -123 and the Tigers at +103, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. Boston has a 46-32 home record while Detroit is 40-38 on the road. The Tigers had a team ERA of 3.96, ranking ninth in the AL, while the Red Sox had a collective 3.73 ERA, ranking third in the AL.
Recent form favored Boston: the Red Sox were 6-4 over their last 10 games with a .269 batting average, while the Tigers were 2-8 with a .200 batting average in their last 10. Top performers entering the game included Red Sox contributors such as Alex Bregman (27 doubles and 18 home runs) and Carlos Narvaez (4 for 35 over the last 10 games). For Detroit, notable hitters included Gleyber Torres (22 doubles and 16 home runs) and Spencer Torkelson (three home runs over the past 10 games).
Injuries and roster notes
Boston carried several injured players on its injured lists, including Brennan Bernardino, Vaughn Grissom, and Dustin May on the 15-Day IL, with additional players on the 60-Day IL. Detroit’s injured players included Colt Keith and Matt Vierling among others.
Postgame and reactions
The Red Sox celebrated their playoff spot in the locker room following the win. Boston’s manager emphasized that the team’s goal remains to win the World Series, not merely to reach the postseason. Detroit’s manager expressed disappointment with the team’s recent performance and described the situation as a looming collapse, noting concern about recent results and remaining schedule challenges.
Season context
This game was the fourth meeting between the teams this season and was significant for playoff implications for both clubs. The walk-off victory and clinch add momentum for Boston entering the postseason, while Detroit faces an uncertain finish as it jockeys for divisional and wild-card positioning.
FAQ
Q: How did the Red Sox clinch a playoff spot?
A: The Red Sox won the game 4-3 with a walk-off triple from Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the ninth.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The Red Sox won the game 4-3 with a walk-off triple from Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the ninth.
Q: When and where was the game played?
A: The Detroit Tigers (86-73) faced the Boston Red Sox (87-72) on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Fenway Park.
Q: What were the teams’ records after the game?
A: With this win, the Red Sox improved to an 88-72 record as the Tigers fell to 86-74.
Q: Who were the probable starting pitchers?
A: Tigers’ probable starting pitcher was Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 131 strikeouts). Red Sox’s probable starting pitcher was Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA, 32 strikeouts).
Q: Was the game broadcast or streamed?
A: The game began at 7:10 p.m. EDT and was streamed live on Apple TV+.
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Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Friday, September 26, 2025; 7:10 p.m. EDT |
| Location | Fenway Park, Boston |
| Final score | Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 |
| Walk-off play | Walk-off triple from Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the ninth |
| Broadcast | Streamed live on Apple TV+ |
| Starting pitchers | Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 131 strikeouts); Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA, 32 strikeouts) |
| Pre-game records | Detroit Tigers (86-73); Boston Red Sox (87-72) |
| Post-game records | Boston Red Sox 88-72; Detroit Tigers 86-74 |
| Betting line | Red Sox -123; Tigers +103; Over/Under 8.5 runs |
| Home/Road records | Red Sox 46-32 at home; Tigers 40-38 on the road |
| Team ERA (AL rank) | Tigers 3.96 (ninth in the AL); Red Sox 3.73 (third in the AL) |
| Recent 10 games | Red Sox 6-4 (.269 BA); Tigers 2-8 (.200 BA) |
| Notable players | Alex Bregman (27 doubles, 18 HR); Carlos Narvaez (4 for 35 over last 10 games); Gleyber Torres (22 doubles, 16 HR); Spencer Torkelson (three HR over past 10 games) |
| Injuries | Red Sox: Brennan Bernardino, Vaughn Grissom, Dustin May on 15-Day IL; additional players on 60-Day IL. Tigers: Colt Keith, Matt Vierling, among others. |
| Season walk-offs (Boston) | 12th walk-off of the season |
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Additional Resources
- Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal and Tigers Start Boston Red Sox Playoffs
- USA Today: Red Sox vs Tigers Highlights
- New York Post: Red Sox Walk-Off Tigers to Clinch Wild Card Spot
- MLB: Game Recap and Highlights
- CBS Sports: American League Bracket and Series Impact
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