ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays, sitting atop the American League East at 93-59 with a magic number of six and 10 games remaining, open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on Friday night in what amounts to the most consequential home stand of their season.

The Rays carry a five-game division lead and have already locked up their first playoff berth since 2023. A sweep this weekend, combined with help from the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting the Yankees, could hand Tampa Bay the AL East title - their first since 2021 - before they even depart for New York.

“Truthfully, from our standpoint, it’s like we only have today,” said Rays starter Ian Seymour, who takes the mound for Friday’s series opener. “That’s the only thing that’s real.”

Tampa Bay enters the series riding a six-game winning streak at the Trop that began with their postseason-clinching victory - secured on Junior Caminero’s first career walk-off homer against the Houston Astros. The Rays’ starting rotation has posted a 2.99 ERA in September, and AL batting average and stolen base leader Chandler Simpson has anchored an offense that has been terrific throughout the streak. Jonathan Aranda has gotten hot, and Caminero has delivered a pair of walk-off blasts during the run.

Boston arrives at 83-70, holding the second AL Wild Card spot and sitting six games behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card, with New York holding the tiebreaker. The Red Sox can clinch a postseason berth as early as Saturday. After this series, they return home to face the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago Cubs, making the Tampa Bay games a critical tune-up.

“You want to be going into October playing your best baseball,” said Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle, who is 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 143 innings this season. “We’re just going to continue to keep the nose to a grindstone. Can’t get too caught up in where you’re at in the standings. So just one game at a time.”

Boston’s pitching staff ranks second in the AL and third in the majors with a 3.61 ERA and leads the AL with 21.5 pitching fWAR. Sonny Gray has anchored the rotation, leading the AL with 17 wins and posting a 2.76 ERA. Ranger Suarez is 7-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 137 2/3 innings. The Red Sox bullpen leads the majors with a 1.17 WHIP and ranks second with a 3.10 ERA.

Boston’s vulnerabilities include situational hitting and the health of catcher Willson Contreras, who exited Thursday’s game after being hit on the right hand by a pitch. X-rays were negative and he is considered day to day. Closer Aroldis Chapman is also day to day with lat tightness. Roman Anthony is batting .200 in September after returning from a nearly four-month stint on the injured list, and Jarren Duran has slashed .203/.259/.359 with a .618 OPS on the season.

For Tampa Bay, the recent loss of setup man Tyler Wells for the rest of the regular season reduces depth in front of All-Star closer Bryan Baker. The Rays hold a 28-15 record this season when facing left-handed starters.

Following the Red Sox series, the Rays travel to the Bronx for a four-game series against the Yankees beginning with a doubleheader on Tuesday.