POETZ'S PLAYBOOK

At the start of July, the Boston Red Sox were 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot and 14.5 games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Fifteen straight wins later, Boston has sole possession of the final Wild Card spot and trails the Rays by just six games.

New Maple Leafs GM John Chayka has turned this team from rebuilders to contenders.

The New York Mets have been one of the busiest teams this MLB offseason. After missing the playoffs in 2025 following an NLCS appearance the previous year, the organization is determined to recapture the momentum of 2024 and push for a championship.