Red Sox-Orioles Series Has Plenty of Playoff Implications, for Baltimore at Least

The Red Sox and the Orioles open a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday night, and it has major implications in the race for the American League East title.

Of course, it's the O's — not the Sox — who are still in the hunt.

Improbably, Baltimore has been able to hold on all season, and enters this weekend just a game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. That also means that Boston can at least somewhat revenge last season's debacle by hurting the O's chances to win the division.

They may do just that this weekend, but they may not be able to totally return the favor, as Baltimore seems destined for at least a wild card spot.