NEW YORK — The most storied rivalry in baseball enters a new chapter Tuesday night when the Boston Red Sox visit Yankee Stadium to battle the Yankees for a best-of-three American League Wild Card Series.
The Yankees (94-68) secured the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage after finishing the season with eight straight wins. The Red Sox (89-73) grabbed the No. 5 seed despite losing four of their last six games.
All three contests will be played in the Bronx, with Game 1 set for 6:08 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.
Season momentum favors Bronx Bombers
Yankees manager Aaron Boone saw his club finish the regular season on a tear. New York went 25-8 over its final 33 games, though Toronto’s tiebreaker advantage kept them from the division crown.
“I feel great about our team and the way they are playing,” Boone said Sunday after a 3-2 win over Baltimore in Game 162.
The Yankees needed a victory plus a Toronto loss to take the AL East. While Ben Rice’s two home runs carried New York, Toronto’s 13-4 rout of Tampa Bay sealed the Blue Jays’ title.
Aaron Judge capped his season with a .331 average, 53 homers and 114 RBIs across 152 games. He claimed his first batting title while chasing back-to-back MVP awards.
“It’s going to be a fun series,” Judge said once the Red Sox matchup was confirmed. “These last couple weeks were pretty fun, going into a gauntlet of games where people kind of counted us out. We’ll try to keep this momentum going.”
Red Sox won season series but face uphill battle
Boston took nine of 13 meetings from New York this year, including a 12-1 mark at Yankee Stadium. That stretch featured a sweep in late August.
The Yankees answered in September, winning two of three at Fenway Park in their most recent matchup.
Boston shortstop Trevor Story said the rivalry carries weight for both sides.
“Just as a fan of the game, I think growing up, you know pretty well about the rivalry and what it means to both cities,” Story said. “I think it’s a special thing. I think it’s the best in all of sports.”
The Red Sox closed the year with 116 errors, most in the majors. Defense tightened late, but inconsistency remains a concern.
Pitching matchups set stage for drama
Game 1 pairs two left-handers. Boston sends Garrett Crochet (18-5, 2.59 ERA), who led MLB with 255 strikeouts. Max Fried will start for New York.
Crochet has owned the Yankees this season. He went 3-0 in four starts, holding them to a .200 batting average with 39 strikeouts across 27.1 innings. His duels with Judge have been notable. Judge went 2-for-13 against him with 10 strikeouts. Both hits were solo home runs, including a late blast on June 13.
For Game 2, Boston turns to right-hander Brayan Bello, who went 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA against New York. Carlos Rodon will start for the Yankees. If a Game 3 is needed, the Red Sox are expected to go with Lucas Giolito, who posted a 3.48 ERA in two outings versus New York.
Chapman’s renaissance adds intrigue
Former Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman returns to the Bronx wearing a rival uniform. At 37, he has rediscovered dominance with Boston, saving 32 games while recording a 1.17 ERA in 67 appearances.
Chapman still throws hard, averaging 99.4 mph on his sinker and 98.4 mph on his four-seamer. He struck out 85 in 61.1 innings and carried a 0.70 WHIP.
His time in New York ended in 2022 when he skipped a team workout after learning he was off the playoff roster. The Red Sox signed him to a one-year, $13.3 million extension in September.
Power offense gives Yankees edge
New York led the majors in both home runs and OPS. Judge and Giancarlo Stanton power a lineup with few easy outs.
“We’ve got a rowdy crowd out there, a rowdy group that’s been behind us all year long,” Judge said. “Even in our tough times in the summer, they were still showing out in numbers, supporting us. They’re definitely going to be excited for a Yankees-Red Sox postseason matchup.”
The bullpen remains the weak link. Yankees relievers posted the highest ERA among playoff teams. Boone will likely rely heavily on David Bednar and Devin Williams in pressure moments.
Boston answers with a formidable late-game duo in Garrett Whitlock and Chapman. Whitlock posted a 1.08 WHIP and sets the stage for Chapman in the ninth.
Red Sox missing key piece
Boston enters October without rookie outfielder Roman Anthony. The 21-year-old has been out since Sept. 3 with an oblique injury. He debuted on June 9, the same week the Red Sox dealt Rafael Devers to San Francisco.
Wilyer Abreu returned Sept. 21 after a calf strain. His left-handed bat could help against New York’s right-handed pitchers.
Postseason history splits evenly
Despite the century-old rivalry, this is just the sixth playoff series between the two teams. They are tied 12-12 in postseason games.
Boston won the last meeting, defeating New York 6-2 in the 2021 AL Wild Card Game. The Red Sox also won the 2018 ALDS on their way to a championship.
The most memorable clash came in 2004, when Boston erased a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS before ending its 86-year title drought.
The Yankees last beat the Red Sox in the postseason during the 2003 ALCS, capped by Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run in Game 7. New York also prevailed in the 1999 ALCS.
Winner advances to face Blue Jays
The winner moves on to the AL Division Series to face top-seeded Toronto. The Blue Jays finished 97-65 and earned the bye.
Game 2 of the wild card series is set for Wednesday at 6:08 p.m., with a potential Game 3 on Thursday at the same time. All games will air on ESPN. New York enters favored thanks to its offense and momentum. But in October, especially with these rivals, outcomes rarely follow the script.
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