After a long and grueling season, the Boston Red Sox will take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park the final game of their 2024 campaign.
While a win against Tampa Bay would give Boston a .500 record on the season and third place in the American League East, the organization also had motivation to drop the contest.
Heading into Sunday's slate, Boston is currently set to be the ninth-worst team in baseball, giving them a better chance at getting one of the top picks in the 2025 MLB draft lottery.
They're currently tied with the San Francisco 49ers and the Rays for that spot, and Boston has a tiebreaker over San Francisco for the better pick. If the Red Sox win, they could move down the board to 13th if the Giants lose their Sunday afternoon battle with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Obviously, the players on the field won't be trying to lose, but it could be beneficial. Boston would have better odds of landing a better player who could really help them stay one of the best farm systems in baseball and compete for championships in the future.
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