BOSTON -- In the event that the Red Sox need a one-game playoff with either the Tampa Bay Rays or the Minnesota Twins, that game will be played at Fenway Park.

This was decided Friday, as the Red Sox won two coin flips conducted by Major League Baseball -- one pertaining to the American League East and the other for the Wild Card race.

It should be noted, however, that if the Red Sox and Rays finish tied for the lead in the American League East and both teams have superior records to the second-place team in the American League Central and are assured of postseason berths, no playoff game will be necessary.

Entering play on Friday, the Twins trailed the Red Sox by 5½ games in the Wild Card standings.

In that case, tiebreakers will be used to determine which team is the division champion and which is the Wild Card entry.

There is a precedent for this as far as the Red Sox are concerned. In 2005, the Red Sox and Yankees both finished at 95-67. Because both teams were assured of making the playoffs, the Yankees were labeled the division champions because they won the head-to-head series against the Red Sox.

This is where it gets interesting. There is a very real chance that the Red Sox and Rays could tie for the division, and tie in head-to-head competition.

Boston entered Friday trailing Tampa Bay by 2½ games in the American League East. If the Red Sox take two out of three from the Rays at Tropicana Field next week, the teams would split the season series at 9-9. The next tiebreaker in that event would be divisional record. The Rays are all but certain to win that one, as they are 36-26 against the East while the Red Sox are 31-28.

In other words, to assure themselves the edge in a potential tiebreaker against Tampa Bay, the Red Sox need to sweep in Tropicana Field next week, which would give them the 10-9 victory in the season series.

The other thing that could unfold for the Red Sox if they struggle down the stretch is that they could tie with the White Sox or Twins in the Wild Card standings.

While the Red Sox won that flip with the Twins, and would host a playoff game against them, MLB did not conduct a coin toss between the Red Sox and White Sox. The White Sox only lead the Twins by one game in the division. If the White Sox and Red Sox indeed tie for the Wild Card, there will be a flip down the road to determine who would host that game.