162 games of the 2025 season brought us here: a Wild Card matchup between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Toronto Blue Jays, who no one really picked to win the division, actually did it.
In 2021, when the Sox and Yankees faced off in the Wild Card it was a single game. This year it’s a best of three, or perhaps more accurately: first to two.
Boston will send Garrett Crochet, the ace, in game one against Max Fried, his Yankees counterpart. In four starts this year Crochet held the Evil Empire to a .200/.231/.370 slash line over 27 innings while striking out 39. He allowed 10 runs and walked 4. His appearances were 8.1, 6.0, 6.0, and 7.0 innings to give up 1, 3, 5, and 1 run. If he avoids a five-spot (although the Red Sox did win all four of his games) we’ll all feel pretty good. Fried, for his part, held Sox batters to .271/.338/.400 and the Yankees lost two of his three starts this season. A 1.96 ERA and 22 Ks in 18 innings tells more of the story: he was really good. Fried himself gave up just four runs.
Brayan Bello, not Lucas Giolito (elbow) takes the ball in Game 2. Bello has struggled as of late but was quite good in two of his three starts against New York, holding them to: .172/.260/.250. He gave up 4 runs in one outing but went 7.0 scoreless in each of the other two. If that Bello can show up…there won’t be much for Carlos Rodón. Rodón went 5.0, 5.0, and 5.2 innings his his starts against the Red Sox, losing the first two. Again, his best start was the most recent, when the Sox had entered a prolonged slump so make of that what you will.
If there is a split of the first two games, the Yankees will send local kid Cam Schlittler against the Red Sox. The rookie did not face Boston in the regular season. He had a good run until, perhaps, tiring as the season went on. His last two starts were duds: 4 runs in 1.2 innings to the Blue Jays and 4 runs in 4.2 innings to the Twins. Boston, unable to turn to Giolito, likely runs out Connelly Early for the rookie-vs-rookie matchup. He’s made just four major league starts — with half of those agains the Athletics — and has looked good at times but also like a rookie.
Masataka Yoshida hit .333/.351/.486 in September. Not a moment too soon. Except that the first two pitchers will be lefties.
It’s not much but over the final 8 games of the regular season Alex Bregman was warm if not hot: .276/.417/.414
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, September 30: Garrett Crochet (2.59 ERA / 2.89 FIP) vs. Max Fried (2.86 ERA / 3.07 FIP)
Wednesday, October 1: Brayan Bello (3.35 ERA / 4.09 FIP) vs. Carlos Rodón (3.09 ERA / 3.78 FIP)
(If needed) Thursday, October 2: TBD/Connelly Early (2.33 ERA / 0.91 FIP) vs. Cam Schlittler (2.96 ERA / 3.74 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Tuesday September 30: 6:08 PM ET on ESPN
Wednesday October 1: 6:08 PM ET on ESPN
(If needed) Thursday October 2: 6:08 PM ET on ESPN
