The Boston Red Sox weren’t the only team to alter their starting rotation for the regular season’s last week. This change also allows Skubal to pitch Sunday’s game against the Red Sox on regular rest, if necessary. It also theoretically gives the Red Sox the option to pitch their ace on three days’ rest if they need a Sunday win to make the playoffs. The Red Sox would also get one last chance to swing a two-man AL Cy Young Award race. Boston and Detroit enter the final weekend with an identical 85-71 record, so the AL Central race could impact the Red Sox’s wild-card chase.