With 12 games left in the regular season, the Boston Red Sox hold a tenuous grip on the second American League wild-card spot. They control their own destiny, but they need some players to step up to help them secure their spot.

After three games against the Athletics this week, the Red Sox play six on the road -- the first three against the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays, followed by three with the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. For the final series of the season, the Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers, one of the league's best teams all season.

"At this point, every game there's a lot of urgency," Trevor Story said after Sunday's win over the New York Yankees. "We know what's at stake. This is the type of baseball that will be played in October."

At their best points this season, the Red Sox have been rolling on all cylinders. At their worst, they've been disjointed and can't seem to get out of their own way. Over the final stretch run, the Red Sox will need more from these five players to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021.

2025 stats: .278 average, .835 OPS, 27 doubles, 17 homers, 104 games

September stats: .216 average, .606 OPS, three doubles, one homer, 12 games

Prior to a severe quad injury in May, Alex Bregman was undoubtedly the team's early-season MVP. He hit .299 with a .938 OPS and 11 home runs through his first 51 games. He fast-tracked his way back from injury in seven weeks and hit well in his first month back, with a .322 average and .946 OPS from the All-Star break through mid-August.

But since then, his numbers have been abysmal, with a .198 average and .548 OPS over his last 25 games. The quad is still not at 100 percent, and Bregman admitted to falling into some bad habits at the plate that have crept up with late-season fatigue.

However, he saw glimpses of breaking out this weekend against New York. He hit a solo homer on Saturday in the fifth inning, but credited his two deep fly balls to center in the next two at-bats as signs that he's feeling better mechanically. On Sunday, he hit an RBI single to center in the first and had another deep fly out to center, indicating his timing is getting closer.

Boston's offensive woes since Roman Anthony went on the injured list have been compounded because Bregman has struggled. If he can turn it on over the next two weeks, the Red Sox lineup will be in a much better place.

2025 stats: .258 average, .782 OPS, 39 doubles, 15 homers, 146 games

September stats: .227 average, .708 OPS, four doubles, one homer, 12 games

Jarren Duran was the team's sparkplug in 2024, hitting .285 with an .834 OPS. This season, his numbers haven't been as strong, but when he's on, the Red Sox offense has been in much better shape. His athleticism and speed puts pressure on defenses, distracts pitchers and in turn helps out his teammates at the plate. Duran has posted an .856 OPS in games the team has won this season, while just a .691 OPS in losses.

On Sunday against the Yankees, Duran showed how much of a difference-maker he can be with his major-league-leading 13th triple to lead off the bottom of the first. It set in motion an offensive onslaught after a barren few days at the plate for the Red Sox.

With Anthony out, Duran has taken on a majority of reps at the leadoff spot. When he's locked in at the plate, the Red Sox offense has a better chance of getting on a roll.

2025 stats: .239 average, .689 OPS, 29 doubles, 16 homers, 144 games

September stats: .105 average, .375 OPS, 0 doubles, one homer, 12 games

There's no question about Ceddanne Rafaela's game-changing defense. He's tied with Pete Crow-Armstrong with a major-league-leading 19 Outs Above Average among outfielders and is tied with Steven Kwan among outfielders with 19 Defensive Runs Saved.

But his offense plummeted in the second half and the Red Sox need more from him at the plate. Rafaela has always been a streaky hitter and there was no expectation he'd keep hitting at the levels he did earlier in the season. The All-Star break came at the worst time for Rafaela. Before the break, he hit .271 with a .796 OPS in 92 games. Since the break, he's hit just .184 with a .506 OPS.

In September, his numbers have gotten even uglier, hitting .105 with a .375 OPS. He has just four hits in 38 at-bats, including a homer.

The swing-and-miss that Rafaela had kept in check earlier in the season has crept back late in the year. He's been trying to swing earlier to be on time more often, but it remains a work in progress.

The Red Sox don't need him to carry the offense. But they also can't afford empty at-bats at the bottom of the lineup late in the season -- even if he brings elite defense in the field.

2025 stats: .253 average, .811 OPS, 16 doubles, 22 homers, 108 games

September stats: Has not played due to injury

Wilyer Abreu landed on the IL with a calf strain about two weeks before Anthony hit the IL. Losing the two lefty bats put the Red Sox offense into a tailspin.

While Anthony wasn't expected to return until early October, Abreu's calf strain has taken longer to recover from than anticipated. He's missed 25 games but is expected to return this week as he's ramped up running and baseball activities.

It's hard to put too much blame or pressure on an injured player, but the Red Sox need Abreu to perform once he's back in the lineup. He and Story are the only two hitters on the team with more than 20 homers, and having his power threat could help ease some of the burden on Story and Bregman and loosen up what's been a tight lineup this month.

2025 stats: 1.26 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 38.6 percent strikeout rate, 6.6 percent walk rate, 30 saves, 63 games

September stats: 4.15 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 33.3 percent strikeout rate, 0 percent walk rate, 3 saves, 5 appearances

The Red Sox don't necessarily need more from Aroldis Chapman, but they need him to stay at the top of his game at the most important time of the year. He's perhaps their biggest weapon down the stretch and into the postseason. But a blip last week showed he is indeed fallible, even in the midst of the best season in his 16-year career. The 37-year-old bounced back Sunday with an 11-pitch, 10-strike performance, hitting 101 mph in each of his last four pitches against the Yankees, but last week he was tagged for two losses: a walk-off to the A's, followed two days later by giving up the go-ahead runs in a tie game against the Yankees. To that point, he hadn't allowed a hit to 50 straight batters.

Yes, the Red Sox need to play better overall, especially on offense, and those losses weren't just on Chapman. But when the stakes are this high this late in the season, the Red Sox need him to be at his best. If he starts to fade in his effectiveness, the Red Sox are in trouble, given that behind him and Garrett Whitlock the bullpen is in flux. Chapman's velocity has dipped throughout the year, which is not uncommon for pitchers. But his 100 mph sinker in April is down to 98.1 mph in September. Similarly, his four-seamer has dropped from 98.5 mph in April to 97.4 mph in September. It's not drastic, but something to monitor.

Chapman isn't the team's biggest worry. The Red Sox need some of their other relievers, including Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert, to step up, too, but Chapman is their biggest difference-maker. The Red Sox will undoubtedly be playing close games the rest of the way, and the left-hander will be called on frequently. This is why Boston signed him to a $13.3 million extension for next season.

These 5 players need to step up for the Red Sox to secure a postseason spot