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10 things to read while you pass the time before the Red Sox-Yankees ALDS

By Eric Chesterton

At 7:32 p.m. ET on Friday night, the Red Sox and Yankees will face off in Game 1 of the ALDS in a matchup between two division rivals that won 100 or more games in the regular season. Given the strength of these two teams and the long history of their rivalry, this provides the most anticipated ALDS matchup for many fans.
It's understandable if you're feeling a little antsy leading up to the first pitch tonight, and -- let's be honest -- you're not doing any real work on a Friday afternoon anyway. Luckily, we've assembled a reading list for both the Yankees and Red Sox to help you direct your nervous energy productively ... and give you something to do instead of staring at the clock for the start of the weekend.
The Yankees
1. The Yankees led baseball with 267 home runs, breaking the all-time record for home runs by a team in a single season. A big reason for that is the dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, who combined for 65 of those home runs. In the Yankees' AL Wild Card Game win over the A's, they each added a home run to the ledger.
There's a reason they can both hit so many dingers: they're both really large humans. That fact is on full display every time they stand next to other supposedly-large humans and make them look much less large.
2. Shortstop Didi Gregorius is an interesting character. He was knighted in the Netherlands for his performance with the 2011 National Team. He puts his knightly chivalry on display through Didi's Deeds, where he just sort of wanders around a city and does nice things for people.
But, Sir Didi is at his best after each Yankees win when he sends out tweet recaps of the game complete with individual emojis for each player. Here he is after the Wild Card Game:

  1. The Yankees bullpen is one of the strongest in baseball and is stacked with lights-out relievers like Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson, Chad Green and Dellin Betances. 
    Just one year ago, Betances was relegated to mop-up duty after an ineffective end to the 2017 season. This year, he's back in vintage form. You can read about how he turned that performance around right here.
  1. At some point in this series, Luis Severino will start a game for the Yankees. Not only is he the hardest-throwing starter in baseball, but his fastball gets faster as the game goes along.
    5. The Yankees acquired Luke Voit from the Cardinals in a Trade Deadline deal that flew mostly under the radar. Since arriving in New York, however, Voit has shown why it was wrong to ignore the move at the time. It's time we all get to know the Yankees' newest slugger better. Not only does he hit dingers, he also has a ton of fun facts.
    The Red Sox
    1. The Red Sox won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season, good for the most wins in all of baseball. Meanwhile, the AL East also featured the 47-win Orioles with the worst record in baseball. The result was a 61-game gap between the first- and last-place teams, the largest of the Wild Card era.
    2. For Game 1, the Red Sox will send their ace, Chris Sale, to the mound. He's been excellent this season with a 2.11 ERA and 237 strikeouts in 158 innings. At his best, he's nearly unhittable.

However, he has thrown only 17 innings since July 27 and his velocity was down in his final start of the regular season. With or without his peak velocity, Sale has been and can be one of the best pitchers in the game, as Ian Browne explores.
3. The Red Sox play in Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in baseball. It is famous for the 37-foot-high wall in left field called the Green Monster. Sure, it looks cool and intimidating, but why is it there? If you've ever asked that question, here's the answer.
4. Coming off an impressive rookie season in 2017, Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi struggled in the first month of the season. But, from the end of April through the end of the season, he has been a crucial bat in the team's lineup hitting between two MVP candidates in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. All it took was a simple change in approach.
5. In addition to posting the best record in baseball, the 2018 Red Sox may be the most likable team in the game. From Betts' infectious smile and on-field candor to the entire team's proclivity for music and dance, this is a group that has fun in charming and endearing ways.  

Teams in this article:
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