The Boston Red Sox are on the precipice of returning to the playoffs for a second consecutive season. A midseason turnaround that included a sensational 32-5 run in late June and July allowed interim manager Chad Tracy's team to rise from the bottom of the American League to contention in the American League East.

The Red Sox have cooled down in August and September, but they have the third-best record in the American League behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. The Red Sox defeated the Rays 4-2 Friday night, and they could clinch a playoff spot Saturday.

They have been fairly assured of a spot in the postseason since the end of that hot streak as long as they did not go through a complete collapse. However, now that they are on the edge of gaining that playoff spot, Tracy says his team is eager to complete the job.

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“I think everybody does, for sure,” Tracy said, per MLB.com. “We came out and looked really good offensively in the first part of that game, and there was a lot of energy in the dugout. And I think guys feel it. We're not done yet, but I definitely think they sniff it, and we're wanting to get there for sure.”

The Red Sox have gotten excellent starting pitching this season and have been led by Sonny Gray and Payton Tolle. Those two and Ranger Suarez are the likely starters in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Red Sox and Yankees are all but assured of meeting in the opening round, with all games at Yankee Stadium.