Biggest questions for Yankees entering postseason

NEW YORK -- The Yankees’ postseason path will open against their oldest rivals as they prepare to host the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium. It is a stage familiar to both franchises, who have often used each other as a measuring stick in the game’s most storied blood feud.

New York closed its regular season with a furious push, but the Yankees settled for the Wild Card after the Blue Jays edged them in the American League East race. The consolation prize is hardly simple: a best-of-three against a Boston club that gave them fits all summer and will arrive eager to spoil the Yankees’ postseason ambitions.

The Bronx will set the scene once more, with the Yankees leaning on Aaron Judge’s MVP-caliber season, a surging rotation fronted by Max Fried and a bullpen that found its stride down the stretch. The Red Sox counter with a deep order and a knack for big moments, ensuring that the latest October chapter in this rivalry won’t lack intensity.

“It’s a tough ballclub with a great lineup, good starting pitching, a good back end of the bullpen,” said Judge. “So we’ve had some battles with them all year, and looking forward to another fun series.”

What could the postseason roster look like?
Catcher (2): Austin Wells, Ben Rice
First base (1): Paul Goldschmidt
Second base (1): Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Shortstop (1): Anthony Volpe
Third base (1): Ryan McMahon
Outfield (5): Cody Bellinger, Jasson Domínguez, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Austin Slater
DH (1): Giancarlo Stanton
Utility (2): José Caballero, Amed Rosario
Starting pitcher (3): Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler
Relief pitcher (8): Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Will Warren, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams
Closer (1): David Bednar

Who will the Yankees face?
The Yankees posted a 4-9 record against the Red Sox this season, though they had the upper hand in the last meeting, a Sept. 12-14 showdown at Fenway Park. New York grabbed the first two games before falling to Garrett Crochet in a Sunday evening showdown.

The Red Sox took two of three at Yankee Stadium from June 6-8, then swept the Yanks at Fenway Park, June 13-15. Boston took three of four in the Bronx from Aug. 21-24.

Who would start a potential Game 3?
With Schlittler having pitched Saturday vs. Baltimore, he would now be on regular rest to start a potential Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series.

Warren started Friday vs. Baltimore, with Gil in line for the regular-season finale. That likely means Gil would be off the roster for a Wild Card Series; Headrick had a locker in the Yankees’ clubhouse after Saturday’s game.

A rotation stalwart, Warren is the first Yanks rookie to make at least 30 starts in a season since Doc Medich in 1973, but he has been hit hard by Boston this year. And Schlittler has been electric since his late-season callup, lighting up radar guns with triple-digit heat.

Are there any health issues?
Every team has bumps and bruises at this stage, but arguably none may be more significant than the state of Judge’s right flexor tendon. Judge returned from a stint on the injured list on Aug. 5 and resumed outfield play on Sept. 5, though he has been cautious airing out his arm. Can Judge throw out a runner at home plate if the situation calls for it?

It was encouraging to see Judge uncork a strong throw Wednesday (85.8 mph, his hardest since returning from the IL), though he overshot second base and said he needs to fine-tune his accuracy. Chisholm underwent X-rays and a CT scan after being hit on the left forearm with a pitch Saturday; both came back negative, and he entered off the bench Sunday.

Volpe has seen good results at the plate following a cortisone injection in his left (non-throwing) shoulder during September, the lingering result of a partially torn labrum identified after a diving attempt in early May. Goldschmidt sustained a right knee sprain on Aug. 12 that has required management.

What’s the history between these clubs?
The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is baseball’s most enduring battle, a century-long clash defined by seismic moments -- Boston selling Babe Ruth to New York in 1919, Bucky Dent’s shocking 1978 homer at Fenway, Boone’s pennant-winning blast in 2003 and revenge for the Red Sox the next year when they erased a 3-0 ALCS deficit to storm to their first World Series title since 1918.

Their most recent postseason meeting came in 2021, when Boston defeated New York in the AL Wild Card Game.

“They got the better of us this year,” Boone said. “We won the last series. It’s always a battle, and it’s coming down to three games between the two of us. So hopefully we can back up our last series with another series win against them.”