Sox Set to Clinch Playoff Berth

With a win Monday night, the Red Sox will clinch their fifth postseason appearance in the last six years.

After taking two of three from the Blue Jays, the magic number to secure the wild card is 1 and the Red Sox have Josh Beckett on the mound to get it done.

While the wild card is good, the division crown is still not out of reach. But should the Sox do everything they can to try to win the division or be happy they are in the playoffs and start setting up the rotation and resting guys?

I think if Boston can get tied with Tampa in the loss column by Thursday they should go for the division. Otherwise, the wild card will have to do. It's not like they haven't gone the wild card route and won in Anaheim before.

Daisuke Matsuzaka had an outstanding game Sunday, completely shutting down the Blue Jays after some typical early game trouble.

The difference this time was that Dice-K didn't continue to pitch in and out of trouble all game and was able to make it through 7 innings. This is exactly the type of performance the Red Sox will need in the playoffs.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 0

Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits including a lead-off triple to set the tone for the game. Ells has started to heat up and will be huge for the club if he can carry this hot streak into the playoffs.

David Ortiz also has regained his power stroke and not a moment too soon. With the uncertainty of Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew's health heading into October, Big Papi will have to be bigger than usual.

Since the Yankees have won a few games in a row and are the closest team behind the Red Sox, it will be even better clinching the spot as Boston will also be eliminating New York from the postseason at the same time. Now that's the way to close Yankees Stadium and usher in the new era of substandard Yankee baseball and Red Sox dominance.