What to know ahead of Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Series rematch

NEW YORK – One year later, they’re right back at it. The Yankees are preparing to host the Red Sox for another American League Wild Card Series, renewing baseball’s most enduring rivalry in a best-of-three showdown.

Tuesday’s Game 1 delivers a rematch of the pairing that took place in the Bronx last October, when Cam Schlittler struck out 12 over eight scoreless innings to quiet the online chirpers and end Boston’s season, propelling his Yankees into the AL Division Series.

This time, the prize is a trip to Tropicana Field, where the Rays will be waiting to face the winner. These Yankees would gladly sign up for that.

“It’s very exciting,” said right-hander Gerrit Cole. “I’m still maybe a little disappointed that we didn’t accomplish our ultimate goal for the division, but we have a chance to do something special in October. We’re excited for the first matchup, for sure.”

You don’t need to flip back to Bucky Dent to find the latest great comeback. These Red Sox seemed to have one foot on the golf course in late June, a managerial change already having taken place as they faced a 15 1/2 game deficit in the division on June 19. They rescued their season, beginning with a four-game sweep of the Yankees at Fenway Park from June 25-28.

Chad Tracy, who replaced Alex Cora as Boston’s manager on April 25, was a big part of that turnaround. Now he will get to manage in the playoffs for the first time.

“I’ve been watching Red Sox-Yankees since I was a kid. It’s Red Sox-Yankees,” said Tracy. “It’s no secret as far as the rivalry that has existed over the years for a very long time. That’s obvious to everybody. I know there’s always a little extra when those two teams meet. Beyond that, I’m not putting much more into that other than just preparing and getting ready for that series.”

Who are the starting pitchers?

Red Sox: The Sox will go with veteran righty Sonny Gray (18-5, 2.72 ERA) or rookie lefty Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03) in Game 1, with the other likely taking Game 2, but Tracy said the club is still working through which order to put them in. Veteran lefty Ranger Suarez is the obvious choice to take the ball if a Game 3 is necessary.

Gray, at 36, is having one of the best seasons of his career in his first year with Boston. He easily leads the Red Sox in quality starts with 20. The Yankees are one of his former teams, and the only one he didn’t perform well for in his career.

Tolle has become a fireballing fan favorite in Boston, just as likely to strike someone out on a 98 mph heater as he is to wrap someone into a bear hug. The Red Sox have no reservations about putting the 23-year-old into the hostile territory Yankee Stadium figures to be.

Suarez is a pure pitcher in this age of velocity, staying in the low 90s with his fastball and painting the corners when he’s at his best. The postseason has always brought out the best in Suarez, who in his Phillies years went 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 October appearances, including eight starts.

Yankees: Starting pitching is the Yanks’ greatest strength going into this postseason, and that has sparked some spirited debates within their clubhouse.

Despite having the AL’s likely Cy Young Award winner on the staff, they are strongly considering left-hander Max Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA) to start Game 1. Fried has faced Boston twice this year, including eight scoreless innings on April 22 at Fenway Park. He last pitched Sept. 22 vs. the Rays, allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) is considered the frontrunner to bring home the AL’s Cy Young hardware, building upon his 2025 playoff breakout to establish his place among the league’s most dominant young arms. The Walpole, Mass., product relishes taking on the Sox, for whom he once cheered, and will likely use whatever vitriol he can find on social media as potential rage fuel.

Either Cole (10-9, 3.61 ERA) or Carlos Rodón (7-3, 2.67 ERA) is expected to start a potential Game 3; Boone has said he expects Cole to draw a start in the Wild Card Series. That suggests Rodón would prepare for a potential ALDS Game 1, while likely remaining available in the bullpen.

What might the starting lineups look like?

Red Sox: Though the Red Sox are a pitching and defense-minded team, the team is at its best when the offense is in a groove, as evidenced by the club’s 32-5 surge from June 25-Aug. 8. Willson Contreras (27 homers in 129 games) is the team’s best power hitter, but his status for the series is in question due to a right hand injury. Jahmai Jones will start at DH when the Yankees throw a lefty, likely moving Jarren Duran to the bench. The Sox have struggled offensively for much of September, particularly with runners in scoring position. But they’ve also lacked multiple key lineup pieces at various parts of the month.

1. Roman Anthony, DH
2. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
3. Wilyer Abreu, RF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Adley Rutschman, C
6. Caleb Durbin, 3B
7. Jarren Duran, LF
8. Trevor Story, SS
9. Nick Sogard, 2B

Yankees: Their lineup is heavily split-dependent, meaning it will look much different depending on whether Gray or Tolle starts Game 1. Assuming Aaron Judge isn’t able to return for the Wild Card round, a lineup against the right-handed Gray would look much like this, and change significantly against the left-handers.

1. Ben Rice, DH
2. Cody Bellinger, LF
3. Heliot Ramos, RF
4. Luis García Jr., 1B
5. Spencer Jones, CF
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
7. George Lombard Jr., SS
8. Austin Wells, C
9. José Caballero, 3B

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Red Sox: Aroldis Chapman, a former Yankee, continues to be one of the elite closers in the game at 38 years old. He has one of the league’s best setup men in front of him in righty Garrett Whitlock. The team’s other high-leverage reliever is Tyron Guerrero, who frequents triple digits with his fastball. Brayan Bello is the swiss army knife of the bullpen, available for bulk relief and also taking down a couple of innings when necessary. Garrett Crochet, who started the season as the ace but hasn’t pitched since April 25, is questionable to be activated for this series.

Yankees: David Bednar finished his first full season in the Bronx with 35 saves and a 2.50 ERA in 63 appearances, the closer ahead of a relief crew that leaned heavily upon Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick and Tim Hill in the late innings. The Yankees didn’t make a bullpen acquisition at the Trade Deadline, but they added pieces down the stretch by picking up Michael Fulmer and John Schreiber, both of whom could be called upon for valuable outs. Will Warren is also converting into a relief role and could provide length.

Any injuries of note?

Red Sox: Contreras got smoked on the knuckle between his right ring finger and pinkie on Sept. 17, and he is pushing to get some at-bats before the regular season ends to make sure he is ready for the postseason.

Will Crochet prove his readiness enough to be added to the roster? And if so, how will he respond to being thrown right into the fire of a playoff series after being inactive for so long?

There is now concern that the surging Mickey Gasper won’t be available for the postseason after he injured his right biceps during Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader vs. the Cubs. Gasper has 10 homers in last 84 at-bats dating back to Aug. 17.

Yankees: How much time do you have? No story has occupied more space recently than Judge’s right soleus strain, which generally would require weeks on the injured list. But this is the postseason, and Judge said he intends to be ready; now he just needs to convince the medical staff. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham have both been hitting and running. Ryan Weathers is out with a flexor strain but hopes to return.

Who is hot and who is not?

Red Sox: Gasper had been Boston’s hottest hitter down the stretch but he might be out of the equation now. Trevor Story was out from May 15-Aug. 30 following sports hernia surgery, but he has swung the bat well since his return, hitting .280 in his first 20 games back.

Rutschman has had a hard time getting his bat going since joining the Red Sox at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline but had a two-hit game in Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. Abreu is notoriously streaky and he’s been mostly cold in September. If past history is any indication, he could heat up again in a hurry.

Yankees: Rice hit his team-leading 40th and 41st home runs on Sept. 23 vs. Tampa Bay, claiming a share of the AL lead until Pete Alonso passed him on Friday. Rice, a Cohasset, Mass., product, has belted six homers in September. Bellinger has been productive all month, tying Jones (14) for second on the team in RBIs behind Lombard (16). García enjoyed a productive stretch after arriving in a midseason trade but recently endured a long hitless streak. Ryan McMahon has struggled to produce all year.

Anything else fans might want to know?

This marks the seventh time the rivalry has gone to the postseason stage – all since 1999. Fittingly, the teams have split the first six matchups.

The Yankees had the series edge over Boston this season, winning seven of 13 contests. The Yanks swept three games at Fenway in April and split a pair in June, then were swept in a four-game series in Boston later that month. New York took three of four from the Sox in late August, their most recent meeting.