October baseball is here, and one of the biggest rivalries in MLB is getting another postseason chapter.
The New York Yankees will host the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Yankees enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed, while Boston is the No. 5 seed.
The best-of-three series will be played entirely at Yankee Stadium, with the winner advancing to the American League Division Series.
A Rivalry Renewed
Yankees-Red Sox is one of baseball’s most recognizable rivalries, and now the two teams will meet with their seasons on the line.
This is the second straight year the Yankees have hosted a Wild Card Series. New York will have home-field advantage throughout the best-of-three matchup, meaning Boston will have to win at least one game in the Bronx to advance.
Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Game 2 on Wednesday at the same time. If necessary, Game 3 will be played Thursday.
Yankees Looking to Make Another October Run
New York finished the regular season as an American League Wild Card team and will now try to turn its home field into an advantage.
The Yankees have plenty of postseason experience throughout their roster, but they will enter the series without their captain, Aaron Judge, who is dealing with a moderate right calf strain.
Manager Aaron Boone said the team was preparing to play the Wild Card Series without Judge. Judge appeared in only 66 games during the regular season after missing significant time with a rib injury before suffering the calf injury.
His absence leaves New York without one of its biggest offensive threats as the Yankees prepare for a difficult series against Boston.
Red Sox Enter With Momentum
Boston also enters October as a Wild Card team after securing the fifth seed in the American League.
The Red Sox had to fight their way into the postseason after a difficult stretch during the summer. Their playoff berth sets up another meeting with their longtime rivals, giving Boston an opportunity to eliminate New York on its home field.
The Red Sox will need their offense to produce against a Yankees pitching staff that has been one of the major strengths of New York’s roster.
Wild Card Series Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 — 8 p.m. ET
Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 — 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1 — 8 p.m. ET, if necessary
All three games will be played at Yankee Stadium.
The winner will advance to the AL Division Series and face the winner of the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox series.
With two historic franchises, a best-of-three format and a trip to the ALDS on the line, the Yankees and Red Sox are set for another postseason showdown.
The rivalry is back, and this time, the stakes could not be higher.
