Today on Pinstripe Alley

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts at first base after his eighth inning two-run base hit against the Boston Red Sox in game two of the doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on August 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images The

What is the story about?

The Yankees opened this series against the Red Sox with a narrow 1-0 win, but they’d need more offense than that to do well in the scheduled doubleheader lined up on Saturday. The first game was a dud as they got shutout and let the game fully get away from them in the ninth inning, but they bounced back to take the nightcap 9-2 and managed to avoid using David Bednar for a night after pouring it on with five runs in the bottom of the eighth. Now perhaps the most important game of the season lays

before them as the final game against the Sox today will determine who wins the season series: with both teams in position to face each other in the Wild Card Round, having the tiebreaker to give them home field advantage for those 2-3 games is a massive deal. The Yankees’ three game lead for the first slot would suddenly be a lot thinner if they lose tomorrow, but if they take it then they’ve got a sizeable gap to work with for the final month of play.

Before we get to the business on the field, let’s go over what’s in store earlier in the day. I’ve got the Rivalry Roundup covering the Rays gaining a half-game after a comeback win, Jonathan recounts the career of Johnny Lindell and his days with the 1940s Yankees on his birthday, and Scott talks to Scranton manager Shelley Duncan after he crossed the 1,000 games managed milestone on Friday. Then after the game, John will pop in to deliver the weekly social media spotlight.