BOSTON — Alex Bregman has played in eight postseasons — and eight consecutive meaningful Septembers . It’s fair to say, then, that he has gained some pretty good perspective when it comes to how to handle adversity late in a season when the standings get tight.

With the Red Sox’ 5-3 loss to the Yankees on Saturday at Fenway and another Rangers win over the Mets, Boston’s lead in the American League wild card race is down to just two games. The American League East — with the Blue Jays leading Boston by 5 ½ games and the Yankees also ahead of Boston — is a long shot. With 14 games to go, the Sox no longer seem guaranteed to play into October. They’ll need to at least hold serve, and maybe even step on the gas a little bit, to make the playoffs.

The road to October has gotten more diff

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