Red Sox bullpen collapse derails a potential Fenway sweep as Jordan Hicks surrenders four runs in the brutal second inning, spotlighting a shaky middle relief corps in a pivotal late-regular-season stretch. Boston’s manager remains publicly confident in Hicks, while stressing the need for consistent execution from a bullpen that also features Whitlock in a setup role. With 21 games left and a weekend series against Arizona looming, the rotation and bullpen must stabilize to sustain a postseason push.

Key names surface: Hicks’s high ERA and WHIP, Bernardino’s mid-innings stint, and Whitlock’s role as the trusted bridge. The Guardians capitalize on Boston’s missteps, and Boston’s decision to field a bullpen game underscores how every late-season outing matters for fantasy managers tracking bullpen usage, leverage spots, and potential save opportunities as the race tightens.