Analysis of MLB Wildcard Postseason Matchups
Bob Nightengale will classify each of the four wildcard matchups to begin the 2025 MLB postseason.
NEW YORK – For the first time in eight years, a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry has invaded the postseason.
And this time, the outcome should be decided by a showdown between the left-handed ace, worthy of Cy Young.
New York and Boston will clash in three American League wildcard series starting at Yankee Stadium on September 30th.
Star-studded openers are important. Game 1, which won the team in three years in the Wild Card Series, has made progress in all 12 matches. Crochet led the major leagues, ranking third in the AL with 2.59 ERA with 255 strikeouts. Freed wasn’t too late at the 2.86 mark, and his 19 wins beat Crochet’s 18 to lead the majors.
The Red Sox won the past two postseason meetings between the clubs, sending the Yankees 3-1 at the 2018 ALDS, heading for the World Series crown. In 2021, Nathan Eobaldi surpassed Gerrit Cole at Fenway Park to win the wild card game.
The Red Sox take 2-1 to Yankees Bullpen lead
Luke Weaver put Yankees starter Max on the seventh peak and quickly walked Sedanne Rafaela at the 11th pitch at bat. Nick Sogaard has since doubled, with Yoshida Masataka getting a pinch hit for Rob Levsnider, scoring two singles on the first pitch seen from Weaver. Fernando Cruz freed Weaver, smacked Trevor’s story and ended the innings by getting pinch hitter Nathaniel Lowe.
Max It was done after fried 6℃ Scoreless
Max Fried will take place on the night after 102 pitches in 6.1 innings. He allowed four hits, walked three times and hit six. The Yankees were the first to leave the runners behind when they clung to a one-run lead. Freed received a huge applause when he was replaced by rescuer Luke Weaver.
Crochet has subsided and I retired from the last 10 Yankees.
Garrett Crochet wasn’t doing that bad, allowing three hits in eight innings, but one of those hits crossed the right field fence at Yankee Stadium, with Anthony Volpe running a home run second. Volpe’s 382-foot home run would have cleared the fences of all major league ballparks except Boston’s Fenway Park.
Freed scored the first two batters of the innings, but scored two runners on walks and doubles. The winning major league leader escaped all the damage by hitting Jaren Duran to end the threat.
Volpe deposited a 97 mph sinker from Garrett Crochet into the right field, breaking the scoreless tie. It was Volpe’s second career postseason home run. New York 1, Boston 0.
Garrett Crochet allowed Paul Goldschmidt to have a single-off single, and Al MVP candidate Aaron Judge did the same on the first pitch he saw. The crochet then launched Cody Bellinger and grounded Giancarlo Stanton to a double play at the end of the inning.
On a lovely 77-degree night in the Bronx, Yankees starter Max Fried started things by sending the Red Sox relatively easily and allowing Alex Bregman to only single.
What time is the Yankees vs. Red Sox game?
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:08pm ET at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
How to watch Yankees vs Red Sox: TV Channels, Streams
Tuesday’s game will air on ESPN and can be streamed on fubo.
Watch Yankees vs Red Sox on Fubo
NEW YORK – Red Sox manager Alex Cora said it’s unlikely that Giorito will pitch again this season due to an elbow injury.
He is on his way home. I’m not 100% sure where we are. From everything I’ve heard, there’s no structural damage – that’s great. There’s a bit of a chance he can pitch. I’ll probably eliminate him,” Kora said.
From a personal perspective, I think those are good news for him, right? It’s like it’s difficult to get surgery in the offseason. Hopefully it will be. I’ll talk to B and talk to him later, but that’s the last thing I’ve heard.
New York – Jazz Chisholm, the usual two-base hand of the Yankees, sits in Game 1 and will be replaced by the lineup by Amed Rosario. Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained his decision at a pre-game press conference. Rosario is 9-6 and has one home run life against Red Sox starter Garrett Crockett.
“Jazz is going well. I don’t hesitate to use jazz. He could get to this game earlier, but yeah, he’s as tough as crochet and he’s particularly tough on left-handed,” Boone said. “There are no great matchups. AMED has a good history with him. I’ve faced him a lot this year.
“But the jazz is good to go. I’m ready. Also, along with Max, I want the strength on the left in my defense.
This is the sixth time the Yankees and Red Sox have met in the postseason (ALCS: 1999, 2003, 2004; ALDS: 2018; Al Wild Card Game: 2021).
In the postseason, the team is between 12 and 12 years old, but Boston won eight of their last nine playoff games against New York.
During the 2025 regular season, the Red Sox went 9-4 against the Yankees. This included eight games winning streak.
- Rob Refsnyder(R)DH
- Trevor Story(R)SS
- Alex Bregman (R) 3b
- Romy Gonzalez (R) 1b
- Carlos Narváez (R)c
- Nate Eaton (R) RF
- Jarren Duran (L) LF
- Rafaela (R) cf
- Nick Sogaard (s) 2b
- Paul Goldschmidt(R)1b
- Aaron Judge (R) RF
- Cody Bellinger (L) LF
- Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
- Amed Rosario (R) 2b
- Trent Grisham (L) cf
- Anthony Volpe(R)SS
- Austin Wells (L)c
- Jose Caballero (R)3b
NEW YORK – Yankees manager Aaron Boone and his staff have settled on a 26 player roster (12 pitchers and 14 position players) for the Best of Al Wildcard series with the Boston Red Sox.
Pitchers Ryan Yarbra and Lewis Gill and right-handed outfielder Austin Slater did not make any cuts, but left-handed catcher JC Eskara and right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn were added. – Pete Caldera, northjersey.com
