AL Wild Card Series Game 2: Max Fried vs. Sonny Gray

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees fist bumps his teammates prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Get

What is the story about?

In the words of a Yankee legend, it was dèja vu all over again in the Bronx last night as Cam Schlittler continued crafting a legend of his own. Just like last season, Schlittler delivered a gem of a performance against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, staking New York to a 1-0 series lead and giving them an opportunity to close the affair out early tonight. But unlike last year’s three-game set, in which the Yankee offense never fully erupted, the lineup finally achieved escape velocity. Ben

Rice and his four hits, two homers, and six RBI, led the charge — but the bottom of the lineup contributed their fair share as well.

In other words, the Yankees played the perfect ballgame last night. Max Fried will be tasked with carrying the momentum into Game 2. Fried’s second season in pinstripes has been marred by a couple of IL stints limiting him to just 20 starts and 112.2 innings, but when he’s been healthy, he’s been just as good as in 2025. He’ll be pitching on seven days’ rest in Game 2 — his last appearance was an up-and-down start against the Rays, in which Tampa clinched the AL East.

As far as the recent track record against Boston, Fried has been quite effective. He only faced them twice this season: one was a short start from when he was returning from his latest injury, the other an eight-inning masterpiece in April from before the Red Sox got it together under new manager Chad Tracy. In Game 1 of last year’s WCS, he provided 6.1 scoreless innings, scattering four hits three walks while striking out six. The Yankees couldn’t hold onto the narrow 1-0 lead he had defended, and sabotaged their own comeback effort after loading the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning. None of that was Max’s fault, of course. Provided the lineup supports him, an effort like last year’s will be more than enough.

Old friend Sonny Gray never caught on with the Yankees in 2017 and 2018, but he’ll have no choice but to step up under the Yankee Stadium lights with Boston’s season on the line. Over his first season with the Red Sox, the steady veteran turned in yet another outstanding season, leading the AL with 18 wins (don’t think that doesn’t mean anything to him) and pitching to a 2.72 ERA. That’s the thing about the Red Sox’ pitching: they have lots of exciting youngsters like Payton Tolle, who pitched last night, but they also routinely get the most out of their veteran pitchers too. Gray faced New York twice in June and pitched well both times. The latter outing was his best start of the season by game score — one hit, one walk, nine strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings.

Unsurprisingly, Aaron Boone’s lineup for Game 2 is nearly unrecognizable when compared with the Game 1 starting nine. It’s a history-making card: according to James Smyth of the YES Network, it’s the first time a team has put eight lefty batters — switch hitters not included — in the same lineup in the postseason. The portside octet includes Trent Grisham, who entered late last night for his first action off the IL. Rice will ascend to the leadoff spot, with Cody Bellinger and Luis Garcia Jr. to follow. Spencer Jones hits cleanup and plays right field ahead of George Lombard Jr., the lone righty to get the start. Jazz Chisholm Jr. draws in at the keystone, Grisham bats in the seven-spot after him, Austin Wells will bat eighth, and Ryan McMahon starts at third and will hit ninth. Naturally, expect plenty of right-handed bats to come off the bench against a lefty-heavy Boston staff once Gray’s start concludes.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

First pitch: 8:00 p.m. ET

TV broadcast: NBC

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (SP), WESX 1230 AM (SP) (BOS) | ESPN Radio (national)

Streaming: Peacock

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