As the tension mounted in the 10th inning on Wednesday at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox were well aware of the stakes. With the Cleveland Guardians having already triumphed over the Tigers, the pressure was on Boston to secure a win and maintain their crucial lead in the wild card race.

After surviving a few nerve-wracking moments in the top half of the inning, the Red Sox managed to score in the bottom of the frame, clinching a thrilling 5-4 victory. This win not only kept them firmly in contention but also bought them valuable time as the end of the season looms.

With their record standing at 83-69, the Red Sox are currently tied with the Seattle Mariners for the fifth wild card position. However, as both teams have several critical games ahead, the battle for playoff positioning is far from over.

The upcoming tiebreakers could be crucial. The Red Sox and Mariners finished the regular season with a 3-3 head-to-head record, leading to the next determining factor: their intradivision records. Currently, the Mariners boast a 31-18 intradivision record, while Boston holds a 28-18 mark, with three games ahead against rivals Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees are holding strong, maintaining a two-game lead over both the Red Sox and Mariners. Cleveland is lurking just 2.5 games behind in the playoff hunt, intensifying the competition.

Despite the pressure, ESPN Analytics gives the Red Sox an impressive 88% chance of making the playoffs, even if that number dipped slightly since Tuesday.

Here's a quick breakdown of the current standings and upcoming matchups for the Red Sox:

Current Standings:

- Red Sox: 83-69 - Games Remaining: 10

Upcoming Red Sox Games:

- Sept. 18: vs. Oakland - Sept. 19-21: at Tampa Bay - Sept. 23-25: at Toronto - Sept. 26-28: vs. Detroit

If the Playoffs Started Today:

American League Byes: - No. 1 Toronto, No. 2 Detroit Wild Card Round (Best of 3): - No. 3 Houston vs. No. 6 Boston/Seattle - No. 4 New York Yankees vs. No. 5 Seattle/Boston

With excitement reaching fever pitch and every game counting more than the last, Red Sox fans are on the edge of their seats, hoping for a miraculous finish as the playoff picture continues to unfold.