GAME NIGHT: 2026 American League Wild Card Series, Game 1 – NYY vs. BOS; NBC, Peacock
The postseason. Yankee Stadium. The Concrete Jungle.
Yankees.
Red Sox.
The first team to two wins gets the pride and glory. The other team’s season comes crashing down.
But this isn’t any ordinary rivalry. Yankees-Red Sox is the greatest rivalry in sports for a reason. For the seventh time, this rivalry will renew itself in the postseason, with each team’s life on the line.
Will the Yankees, led by Cam Schlittler in Game 1, defend home turf and take two of three games from Boston for the second straight year? Or will the Red Sox, with power lefty Payton Tolle on the mound tonight, get revenge in New York City?
The playoffs are exciting. It’s where legacies are made. But it’s also where tragic tales are written. Since 2009, the 27-time World Champion Yankees have gone title-free while the Red Sox have won four championships since 2004.
Last year, the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when now-manager Aaron Boone walked it off in the 11th inning of Game 7. This season, the Yankees look to string consecutive playoff series wins against their rival for the first time since then.
But they will have to do it without their captain, Aaron Judge, who tried to shake off his calf strain in time for tonight’s game. However, they will have Giancarlo Stanton available for the first time since April 24. He can only pinch-hit, but with Boston’s five left-handed relievers, the righty slugger could shine in a big moment.
In 48 career playoff games, Stanton has hit 18 home runs and posted a .927 OPS. He is one of several players who will have to fill Judge’s void, including rookies Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. Jones will start in center field over Trent Grisham tonight because of his impressive .389/.441/.667 slash line versus lefties.
Lombard, meanwhile, burst onto the scene in early August before hitting an offensive and defensive rut. He has been better lately, as has Heliot Ramos, Judge’s replacement in right field.
When he first came over, Ramos looked uncomfortable in the Yankee Stadium outfield, but he adjusted. The Yankees acquired him to hit lefties, against which he has posted a .297 batting average and a .908 OPS. Also, in his last 15 games, the righty is 14-for-49 (.286) with a .908 OPS.
Tolle, tonight’s starter, has reverse splits, but his pitch movement threatens batters on both sides of the plate. Therefore, Boone went with his usual lineup against lefties, including Paul Goldschmidt leading off. The 39-year-old has a .299 average and a .966 OPS against southpaws this season.
Cody Bellinger is another intriguing piece. Batting cleanup tonight, he also has reverse splits against lefties. Meanwhile, righty Amed Rosario hasn’t feasted on lefties this year like he usually does, but Boone put him in tonight’s lineup.
Even without Judge, the Yankees have more power than Boston, but Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Willson Contreras have plenty of pop. It’s Yankee Stadium in the playoffs, so home runs will be hit. A regular season power discrepancy becomes irrelevant at this point.
The Yankees took a while to pick their Game 1 starter, but they eventually chose Cam Schlittler. In his first full season, the righty posted a historic 1.95 ERA, the third-lowest in any Yankees season. He is expected to win the Cy Young Award, and he could receive MVP votes.
The Yankees almost had Schlittler start Game 2 to rest an extra day, since he struggled with command in his last two starts.
Ultimately, the Yankees made the right choice. Schlittler, who posted a 0.74 ERA in four starts against Boston this season, is the team’s best pitcher. Game 1 is a must-win. Wild Card teams that win Game 1 are 15-1, last year’s Yankees the only exception.
“He’s turned into an ace in the sport,” Boone said of Schlittler, who doesn’t believe he’s had ace-caliber experience. “He’s obviously super talented and skilled, but he’s also really tough and able to focus. It seems like the bigger the game, the better he seems to be here in his young career.”
Last year, in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against Boston, Schlittler made history. In eight scoreless innings, he struck out 12 batters, helping the Yankees advance to the ALDS. Born in Walpole, Massachusetts, he was motivated by Red Sox fans who threatened his family.
“I wouldn’t say I’m always on my phone looking for that stuff,” Schlittler said. “At the same time, I don’t live under a rock. I’ve found ways to use that to my advantage. I think I’m good at keeping receipts. At the end of the day, I’m locked into going out there and doing my job.”
Meanwhile, Tolle has a very different personality than Schlittler. He’s friendly and smiley. But both young hurlers are some of the feistiest and most competitive in baseball, and they will keep tonight’s score close.
Tonight’s game will likely come down to the bullpens, where the Red Sox have the slight edge. Boston’s 3.00 bullpen ERA led the league this season while the Yankees’ 3.15 mark ranked second. Both teams have strong back ends, with plenty of question marks in between.
The Yankees added Carlos Rodón and Will Warren to their Wild Card bullpen, excluding Tim Hill and Michael Fulmer. Warren has made a few strong relief appearances this season, but Rodón lacks recent bullpen experience.
Relievers from both teams will have to step up in difficult situations this week. In a best-of-three series, results matter, regardless of who is pitching. The Yankees will ask a lot out of David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, and Brent Headrick. If any of them struggle, others will have to clean up.
A best-of-three Wild Card Series is undoubtedly scary. Sure, the playoffs are exciting, but a Wild Card Series is flat-out terrifying. When the Yankees play the Red Sox in the playoffs, shred your stat sheet and expect the unexpected.
Schedule
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): American League Wild Card Series, Game 1 – NYY vs. BOS; NBC, Peacock; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (14-5, 1.95 ERA, 239 K) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA, 171 K)
