After a devastating loss in Game 2, the Boston Red Sox will have their backs against the wall in Thursday night's pivotal Game 3. If Alex Cora's squad can outlast the New York Yankees on Thursday, they'll move on to face the AL East Champion Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series. If they come up short, the dream season will come to an end.
History is on Boston's side, though. Since the best-of-three wild card series was implemented back in 2022, the winners of Game 1 have gone 18-2 in the wild card round. It'll be a tall task for the Red Sox in Game 3, but Cora's squad has proved time and time again that they're never completely out of a game.
The Red Sox will need contributions from everybody, not only on Thursday, but throughout October if they want to end their World Series drought. With the Yankees slated to start righty Cam Schlittler, Cora will be looking for his lefty bats to make an impact more than ever.
One of those lefty bats, Nathaniel Lowe, will not only be looking to advance the Red Sox, he'll also be trying to make a case for the 2026 Opening Day roster.
Red Sox 1B Nathaniel Lowe Playing for 2026 Roster Spot in Postseason
After being released by the Nationals on Aug. 14, the Red Sox picked up Lowe and signed him to a one-year deal. A World Series Champion with the Texas Rangers back in 2023, Lowe has provided Boston with a lefty first-baseman after Abraham Toro struggled after the All-Star break.
A change of scenery might've been just what Lowe needed, as he's slashed .280/.370/.420 across 34 games for Boston. In the nation's capital, Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 across 119 games, ultimately leading to his release in August. Clearly, joining the Red Sox is exactly what he needed to get back on track, potentially leading to a long-term stay in Beantown.
With the Triston Casas breakout season still not coming to fruition for the Red Sox, it may be a good idea for Boston to keep Lowe around heading into next season. The Red Sox cannot make the same mistake of scrambling to find a replacement for the oft-injured Casas, and retaining Lowe would give them a left-handed bat they can count on in key matchups.
Having said that, Lowe will have to prove his worth, as he's made pinch-hit appearances in Game 1 and 2, going 0-3 and grounding into a costly double play during the eighth inning of Wednesday's loss. Although he's proven that he can be better than that, his past won't matter much if his present performance factors into a potential playoff exit.
Tonight, expect to see Lowe in the lineup against a righty. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter will have to come up big if he wants to be a part of the Red Sox's plans in 2026 and beyond. Otherwise, it'll be back to the unemployment line.