New York could not complete a sweep as Will Warren opened with six runs in the first inning, stalling the offense’s rally against Chicago’s bullpen. They still took three of four from contenders, and now shift to Minnesota for a pivotal road trip. The Twins series kicks off a final stretch that will influence postseason positioning, with questions about Warren’s postseason role and late-inning options for the bullpen looming large.

The focus shifts to Target Field as fantasy managers parse bullpen usage and lineups for a strong closing run. Watch Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman for late-inning leverage, and gauge how Warren’s early-season control trades off with the Yankees’ need for depth and stability in October.

Garrett Crochet dazzled over six innings with 12 strikeouts, guiding Boston to a 6-4 win over New York and tightening the AL Wild Card picture. Judge homered but Crochet limited damage, extending his dominance to 16-5 with a 2.63 ERA across 30 starts. The Red Sox bullpen closed it out, and Boston now holds tiebreakers over the Yankees and Astros as the schedule shifts west toward Minnesota.

The big first inning set the tone, with Duran leadoff triple and a six-run burst before Warren settled in. The win preserves Boston’s postseason path while reaffirming Crochet’s status as a front-line ace in a workload-managed post-break plan for Cora.

Garrett Crochet sits atop MLB with 228 strikeouts in 185 innings for Boston, three starts remain as he aims for the first major strikeout crown of his career. A potential K title would join the Red Sox in a rare club, echoing the legacies of Clemens and Sale. If he handles the workload and avoids a blowup that could derail the run, his path could also edge toward the innings crown in a late-season push against the Yankees.