Red Sox have one huge obstacle in their way of making the playoffs

Just two weeks remain in the MLB season, and nothing is set in the American League. Following play on September 15, not a single team had officially clinched a playoff spot.

While the Blue Jays and Tigers at the top of the league are just a few wins away from clinching their October berths, all three divisions were still open for at least three teams, and it's looking like the Wild Card spots are going to come down to the final days.

For the Red Sox, a rough stretch following the injury to Roman Anthony has seen their hopes at the division dwindle, and the last wild card spot become increasingly closer. Now, they have just four series left in the season, and unfortunately for them, it isn't going to be easy.

Eight teams have true playoff aspirations in the AL at this point: The Blue Jays, Tigers, Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox, Astros, Rangers, and Guardians. The Royals and Rays technically aren't eliminated at this point, but they would be serious longshots for the final AL spot. So, of the other eight, the Red Sox have the hardest remaining strength of schedule at .509. For those unaware, the strength of schedule calculates the combined winning percentage of a team's opponents.

The Red Sox find themselves with the hardest remaining schedule among AL contenders

Boston's remaining schedule goes as follows: vs. Athletics, @ Rays, @ Blue Jays, vs. Tigers. They get a slight reprieve with the A's, a team they just took two of three games against last week, but then have to travel to Tampa, with an off day on Monday, before a six-game stretch with the two best teams in the AL to finish the season.

This is a gauntlet for the Red Sox down the stretch. The Blue Jays, A's, and Tigers are all top-five teams in team OPS this season among AL teams, and the Rays are a top-15 team in baseball in team ERA at home despite pitching in the smallest park in the majors.

With none of the teams having clinched, and seeding still up for grabs, the Jays and Tigers won't be taking it easy either. They are going to be fighting for the top seed and home-field advantage through the AL side of the bracket down to the final day.

There is one thing that is going to help the Sox's playoff chances down the stretch: the AL West teams' schedules. The Mariners still have to face the Astros and Dodgers. The Astros still have the Mariners and Rangers. The Rangers have the Astros and Guardians. All three still have two competitive series remaining and will be taking wins off of each other.

This is a prove-it stretch for the Sox; they can either live up to the challenge or crumble and fall out of the playoffs completely. Their destiny is certainly in their hands.