BOSTON -- As the Red Sox head out of town for their final road trip of the season, there is an uncomfortable feeling in the air surrounding a team that is clearly out of sync heading into the final nine games of the season.

Not long ago, a postseason appearance seemed a near certainty for Boston.

Things have become a shade or two below certain, as a 5-3 defeat Thursday at Fenway Park in the rubber match of a three-game series against the Athletics has dropped the Sox (83-71) to the third American League Wild Card spot , with the sizzling Guardians (who have won seven straight and 11 of their last 12) lurking just 1 1/2 games out of the playoff picture. Boston does hold the tiebreaker over Cleveland by virtue of winning the season series, 4-2.

Manager Alex Cora’s team starts a three-

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