Boston Red Sox Could Visit Tropicana Field Three Straight Weekends

The game presentation crew at Tropicana Field did its best to make the Boston Red Sox feel at home. After all, the American League East rival’s 162nd and final game of the 2026 regular season was played in St. Pete on Sunday afternoon. The nor’easter that battered the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts necessitated the Red Sox and Cubs completing their weekend series at the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, who concluded their regular season in Philadelphia.

From the playing of Neil Diamond’s 1980 hit “America” leading up to Tanner Houck‘s first pitch – in the righthander’s first MLB appearance since May 2025 – to the fans enjoying the 85-year-old singer and songwriter’s “Sweet Caroline” in the bottom of the eighth inning, a quarter-century long Fenway Park tradition, the effort was noticeable. That included the usual fine work of grounds crew director, Dan Moeller, head groundskeeper, Mike Deubel and their team of diligent individuals.

Such hospitality will not be in order should the Red Sox return to play Tampa Bay on Saturday for Game 1 of the American League Division Series. If so, it would mark the third consecutive weekend Boston will set up shop in the visitor’s clubhouse. (Though they were the home team against the Cubs, the Sox used the visitor’s dugout and clubhouse out of familiarity.)

The Sox were in town to conclude the Rays’ home schedule with a weekend series September 18-20. Then came Sunday’s relocated game with the Cubs, which drew 20,114 fans on 48 hours’ notice and with only the lower bowl open for max seating of roughly 23,000. Now, there is the possibility of being Tampa Bay’s opponent in the ALDS. First things first as the Red Sox face the Yankees in a wild card series beginning Tuesday evening (8:00/NBC & Peacock) in the Bronx.

Boston had the champagne showers going full force at the Trop when, thanks to an Astros loss, Chad Tracy’s club clinched a playoff spot on September 20.

“Here we are, back in (St. Petersburg),” pitcher Peyton Tolle said prior to the game against the Cubs. “It’s kind of fun to be part of a future trivia question. The postseason stage already is set for us. So, we’re going out there to have fun and try to end the season on a high note.”

The BoSox did not end on a high note as they lost to the Cubs, 6-2, to finish 87-75. Not that it mattered as both teams were locked into their respective wild card matchups. (The Cubs are at San Diego.) The key in the meaningless affair was to make sure everyone made it back to Tampa International as healthy as when they arrived following Friday’s doubleheader at Fenway.

“Regardless of whether we played here or at Fenway, you still have to play the game,” said Tracy, following the game. “So, what can you do to (finish the game) and keep people healthy. So, that was really good.”

It was good for Tracy to pencil in Willson Contreras as the designated hitter and give him a couple of at-bats (0-for-2) after missing eight games thanks to being plunked on the right hand by the Rangers’ Jake Junis on September 17 in Arlington.

Perhaps Contreras, who established career highs in home runs (27) and RBI (81) and the rest of the Red Sox can complete the hat trick by returning to 1 Tropicana Drive for the third time in as many weekends.

“Hopefully, we’re popping more bottles in here,” said third baseman Caleb Durbin, in the clubhouse prior to taking the field against the Cubs. “Obviously, we’ve got to focus on the (Yankees). It is funny being back here after just being here. Hopefully, it’s smooth travels to New York and then, ideally, we’re back here again.”

If so, here is how the season series with Tampa Bay unfolded. Also, how the Rays fared against the Yankees, who will be headed south with a wild card series win.

Thanks to taking the final two games of the three-game series between the clubs noted above, the Rays won the season series 7-6, including five of six at the Trop. Hence, Boston went 1-6 in St. Pete this season. The Red Sox outscored the Rays, 50-45, thanks in large part to launching 18 homers in the 13 games with the Rays depositing 10 over the wall. Tampa Bay had a 14-7 advantage in stolen bases.

Cooperation among AL East clubs has been notable given the Rays used Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ Tampa-based spring training home, to play their 2025 home games after Hurricane Milton tore apart the Trop’s roof.

No red carpets will be rolled out should the teams meet in the ALDS on the other side of the bay. As they did with the Red Sox, Tampa Bay took the season series from the Yankees, 7-6. New York outscored the Rays 54-45 and greatly outhomered them, 19-6, though Kevin Cash’s club ad four come-from-behind wins and won five of seven at the Trop.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com