The Boston Red Sox are headed to the postseason for the third straight season after defeating the Toronto Blue Jaysto clinch a playoff spot Tuesday.Boston Red Sox RedSoxGot the W and that postseason spot!馃憡 #DoDamageFINAL: #RedSox 7 Authentic Josh Rosen Jersey , Blue Jays 2. M75DUE9FEQA lot has gone into the Red Sox's success this year.After finishing second and sixth in the American League MVP voting over the past two years, Mookie Betts is positioning himself to collect baseball's highest individual honor in 2018.Betts leads all position players in WAR (9.1) on FanGraphs.J.D. Martinez, Boston's biggest offseason acquisition, is also tearing the cover off the ball, boasting a .636slugging percentage, 40home runs and 121RBI.On the mound, Chris Sale is the favorite for the AL Cy Young despite shoulder inflammation forcing him to miss a stretch of games earlier this year. The left-hander is12-4 with a 1.97 ERA in 23 appearances.Granted, some questions around the Red Sox's pitching remain.Here's the obligatory reference to David Price's 5.03 ERA in 17 playoff appearances.Likewise, Rick Porcello allowed seven runs in 8.1 innings over the past two years in the postseason. Boston didn't strengthen its bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, either."I know people keep talking about it, [and] you can always have more bullpen pieces http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/josh-rosen-jersey ," Red Sox president of baseball operationsDave Dombrowski said, per the Washington Post's Dave Sheinin. "[But] there is no perfect club. We think, realistically, our bullpen is pretty good."So far, the Red Sox have arguably exceeded expectations in manager Alex Cora's first season. Sure, Boston was expected to contend for a division title, but the team's 99wins are tied for fourthin franchise history.Having said that, the 2018 campaign will be considered a massive disappointment for many fans if the Red Sox once again bow out of the playoffs in the American League Division Series.The Cleveland Indians swept Boston in the ALDS in 2016, and the world champion Houston Astros knocked the team out in four games last year.A playoff series鈥攅specially of the five-game variety鈥攊s always unpredictable. A few bad breaks can change a team's fortunes drastically. But that does nothing to lessen the sting of seeing your team fall short of winning a title after making it to the postseason.Cora has been one of MLB's best managers in 2018, and the playoffs will provide him with another opportunity to display his tactical nous and show beyond a shadow of a doubt he's the man to lead the Red Sox to a ninth World Series title. Tampa Bay’s shutout streak ended at 27 innings Tuesday night, tying the club record.But the Rays‘ pitching staff continued its roll behind ace Blake Snell to win their second game over the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field.Now Josh Rosen Jersey Limited , Tampa Bay sends Ryne Stanek to the mound against Kansas City’s Jakob Kunis in the third game of the series Wednesday night.Article continues below ...Snell, winning his 15th game of the season to further become part of the Cy Young talk, gave up a run in the fifth inning, but struck out 11 through six as he lowered his ERA to 2.07.The Rays won their third straight to go to four games over .500, matching their high-water mark for the season.“It’s amazing,” Willie Adames, who had three hits, including a home run, Tuesday, said of Snell (15-5). “You’ve been watching Snell the whole year — he’s been dealing this year. He’s been having a great year — he has great talent.”And the Rays have allowed one run during the mini winning streak.Told the 27 innings tied the club mark set in 2013, manager Kevin Cash said Authentic Julio Jones Jersey , “It’s awesome. And we’re doing it with a bunch of young pitchers. I have no idea when (it was done last) but the guys that we’re asking to do it it’s been a huge team effort, pen effort, starter effort, opener effort. It’s pretty rewarding to hear that.”Reminded the Rays went to the playoffs in 2013, Cash said, “We better get going.”The Royals have scored one run in 25 innings since a six-run second inning at Chicago on Sunday.“We struck out 16 times tonight,” said K.C. manager Ned Yost. “It’s not acceptable. Just way, way too many punchouts.”Asked about Snell, he said, “He’s tough. He’s an All-Star — not an All-Star by accident.”Kunis is 6-11 with a 4.76 ERA. He has thrown three straight no-decisions — all Royals losses — but has allowed four earned runs in 16 1/3 innings in the three starts.He is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two games (one start) against the Rays. Last year, he struck out 10 in 6 2/3 innings in defeating Tampa Bay.The current Rays are just 1-for-6 lifetime against Kunis.The Rays lost Tommy Pham to a dislocated right ring finger in Tuesday’s game. They announced x-rays were negative and said he is day-to-day.For K.C. Julio Jones Jersey Limited , Jorge Bonifacio was a late scratch with lower back stiffness. Rookie Ryan O’Hearn, a left-handed hitter, went into the lineup against tough lefty Snell and hit his first home run off a left-hander. That ended the Royals’ scoreless streak at 20 straight innings.Yost didn’t have much of an update on Bonifacio.Before the game, Yost said signs are pointing toward Danny Duffy coming off the 10-day disabled list to start the series finale Thursday night. Duffy threw a bullpen session Monday and reported no after-affects Tuesday.“I’m not going to put it in cement yet,” Yost said. “We’ve still got a couple of days to go, but it looks that way.”Said Duffy, out with left shoulder impingement that required an anti-inflammatory injection: “It went well. (My shoulder) loosened up as it went. This time of year, everyone has something going on (injury-wise), so I’ll give it a shot.“I feel like I’m at the point where I’m good. I feel like if whatever percentage I have left in the tank is good enough to dominate; I’ll give it a go.”