The regular season ended in chaotic fashion, with the New York Yankees still aiming to clinch the American League East lead, but ultimately unable to avoid a challenging Wild Card series. They now face the Boston Red Sox, and despite the Bronx Bombers entering with a better record, this series opener won’t be easy for Aaron Boone’s squad.
Standing in their way is Garret Crochet, who has been a true nightmare for the Yankees’ lineup, potentially putting them on the ropes early in this best-of-three series.
A nightmare for the Yankees
Crochet is no easy task for the Yankees‘ batters. In 2025, Boston won all four games he started against the Pinstripes. The left-hander, in his first season with the Red Sox after playing for the Chicago White Sox, boasts a 2.59 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP-career-best numbers.
Given this challenge, the Yankees will need to play flawlessly to extend their streak to eight consecutive wins in this crucial series. With Crochet starting the postseason, the Red Sox could land a decisive first blow.
One bright spot for the Yankees is that Aaron Judge remains unfazed. He told SNY he’s excited to face a pitcher of Crochet’s caliber:
“He’s a tough matchup, if not one of the best, the best pitcher in the game right now. Probably on his way to a Cy Young,” Judge said. “It’s impressive what he’s done so far this year, and I’m looking forward to facing him.”
On the Yankees‘ side, left-hander Max Fried will start Game 1, with Carlos Rodón confirmed for Game 2. The starter for a potential Game 3 remains undecided, though rookie Cam Schlittler is a likely candidate. Boston, meanwhile, has yet to announce its pitchers for the final two games.
The winner of this historic American League East classic will advance to the Divisional Series, where the Toronto Blue Jays, the AL’s top seed with the best record in the league, await after earning a direct bye to the second round.
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