BOSTON — Pablo López took special care to pick out costumes for his teammates, theming them to each individual for the Twins’ annual rookie dress-up day.

But those costumes remain unworn after the Twins scrapped their plans to have the youngsters wear the outfits on Thursday’s flight from Cleveland to Boston following their second-straight walk-off loss to the Guardians.

“The vibes were not the best (Thursday),” López said. “The vibes were off.”

On that same flight, veteran infielder Kyle Farmer got on the loud speaker to remind his teammates of their new reality: After that loss to Cleveland, they had slipped into a tie for the third wild card spot with the Detroit Tigers.

While the Twins did not partake in the annual tradition on Thursday — López is still hopeful that they can do it on Sunday on their flight back home to Minnesota — the Twins are trying to keep things loose as they embark on the final stretch of the season and fight for their playoff lives.

In the hours before Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, some players went to check out the interior of the famous Green Monster. Some played a dice game within the clubhouse.

Music played as players went about their business and at one point, the Twins closed the clubhouse so bench coach Jayce Tingler could lead a team meeting. Some veterans spoke as well, just trying to loosen things up, as the pressure ratchets up.

“Nothing in baseball is serious. I’m being honest,” Farmer said. “The more serious you take it, the more it’s going to give you anxiety. It’s a hard game. Everybody knows it. I think you’ve just got to take it lightheartedly.”

And if you’re not playing loose, López said, you’re not giving the team the best version of yourself.

“I’m guilty of it. I deal with self-inflicted pressure sometimes. I did it earlier in the year. We’re only human,” López said. “Your best opportunity to help the team is when you’re your best version of yourself. Your best version of yourself, you’re playing with confidence, you’re playing loose.”

López excited for Fenway

When the Miami Marlins came to Fenway Park in 2018, a younger López went out to the Green Monster and signed his name, taking a photograph so he could try to find it on future visits.

But though López has been to Fenway, he has never pitched at the historic park, which opened in 1912 and is the oldest in the game.

That will change on Saturday when it becomes his 28th park in which he’s pitched. Pitching on the same mound as so many historic figures in the game’s past “makes me very excited,” López said.

“I’ve done Wrigley, I’ve done Dodger Stadium, the ones that a lot of people consider cathedrals of the game,” López said. “Just a historic place. We’re in this clubhouse, it’s tiny, people complain that there’s not a lot of space but that’s the beauty, the magic of this place. It’s nostalgic.”

Briefly

López will face off against Kutter Crawford on Saturday in a game that will begin at 3:10 p.m. CT. … Carlos Correa was in the lineup for the third straight game on Friday for the first time since returning from the injured list.