Why Red Sox-Royals Wild-Card Race May Peak With Monday Doubleheaders

The Boston Red Sox are absolutely fighting for their season in the coming weeks. Plenty of progress, one way or another, could be made on that front on Monday.

As the weekend comes to a close, the Red Sox just suffered a demoralizing series sweep at the hands of the reigning National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Boston could have faced a far worse outcome had it not been for the Philadelphia Phillies earning a series victory over the red-hot Kansas City Royals.

Entering Monday, the Royals lead the Red Sox by 4 1/2 games for the final wild card spot in the American League. While that's an uphill climb for Boston, the margin really could be a lot worse.

The start of the final week of August starts with a consequential schedule similarity as both teams play doubleheaders on Monday. The Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park while the Royals travel to Cleveland to take on the American League Central-leading Guardians.

Fenway Park was already in for an eventful day with history being made during a continuation game with Toronto from June 26. Now, the Red Sox have a chance to make significant ground in a 24-hour period or potentially fall out of the race realistically all together.

Here are how tomorrow's results would impact the wild-card race for the Red Sox and the Royals:

Boston wins both and Kansas City loses both: Boston trails by 2 1/2 games
Boston wins both and Kansas City splits: Boston trails by 3 1/2 games
Both teams split, win both or lose both: Boston trails by 4 1/2 games
Boston loses both and Kansas City splits: Boston trails by 5 1/2 games
Boston loses both and Kansas City wins both: Boston trails by 6 1/2 games

The Minnesota Twins could also factor into this equation soon as they sit tied record-wise with Kansas City. Those teams sit right above the Red Sox, holding the final playoff spots behind the top wild card team in the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox have to find consistency over the final weeks and get some help from their competition from Kansas City (and potentially Minnesota). Monday could go a long way in that mission.

The Royals and Guardians play their games at 1:10 p.m. ET and 6:10 p.m. ET on Monday. The Red Sox resume their continuation with the Blue Jays at 2:05 p.m. ET followed the regularly-scheduled game, including a Women's Celebration Game broadcast, at 7:10 p.m. ET. You can watch those games on NESN.