The 2026 MLB playoffs are officially here, and one of baseball’s most famous rivalries is immediately taking center stage.
The New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series, opening a best of three showdown with little room for error.
First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 29, with the game broadcast nationally on NBC and streamed on Peacock, according to Major League Baseball. �
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But the biggest development ahead of the game concerns the player who will not be on the field.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge has been left off New York’s Wild Card roster because of a right soleus strain, MLB confirmed Tuesday. Judge had attempted to convince the club that he could play through the injury, but the Yankees ultimately decided not to include him for the series against Boston. �
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Aaron Judge injury changes everything for Yankees
The absence of Aaron Judge represents a major blow for New York at the most important point of the season.
Judge missed the final 10 games of the regular season but participated in batting practice Monday as he attempted to prove he was ready for the playoffs. Reuters reported earlier Tuesday that the Yankees star had taken swings both on the field and indoors as part of his push to return. �
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That effort was not enough to secure a place on the Wild Card roster.
MLB reported that the injury typically requires weeks of recovery and confirmed that Judge will not be available against Boston. Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham had also been dealing with injuries, although both had returned to hitting and running during preparations for the postseason. �
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Judge could potentially return later in October if the Yankees survive the Wild Card round and his recovery progresses.
First, New York has to get past Boston.
Yankees and Red Sox meet again in October
Few matchups in American sports carry the history of Yankees against Red Sox, and the rivalry has increasingly spilled into the postseason.
Tuesday’s series represents the seventh time the two clubs have faced each other in the playoffs. Remarkably, they have split their first six postseason meetings. �
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They also met in the Bronx during last year’s Wild Card round.
Cam Schlittler produced one of the defining performances of that series, striking out 12 hitters over eight scoreless innings as New York eliminated Boston and advanced to the American League Division Series.
Now Schlittler gets another opportunity against the Red Sox.
The Yankees right hander will start Game 1 after an outstanding regular season in which he finished 14 and 6 with a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts. His ERA was the best in the American League, according to MLB. �
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Boston will counter with 23 year old left hander Payton Tolle.
Tolle finished the season 9 and 6 with a 3.03 ERA and has quickly developed into one of the most important pitchers on the Red Sox staff.
Boston’s remarkable comeback reaches October
Boston’s presence in the postseason looked highly unlikely earlier this summer.
On June 19, the Red Sox were 15.5 games behind in their division and had already changed managers.
Chad Tracy replaced Alex Cora in April and eventually helped oversee a dramatic turnaround.
A major moment came when Boston swept four games against the Yankees at Fenway Park between June 25 and June 28. The Red Sox subsequently produced a remarkable 32 and 5 run that transformed their season. �
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The comeback has now delivered Tracy his first opportunity to manage in the postseason.
Boston enters the series with another significant boost.
Two time All Star pitcher Garrett Crochet has been activated from the 60 day injured list and included on the Wild Card roster after missing major league action since April 25 because of inflammation in his left shoulder.
Reuters confirmed Tuesday that Crochet is expected to work from the bullpen during the series. �
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Yankees won the regular season battle
The rivalry was extremely competitive throughout 2026.
New York won seven of the 13 regular season games between the teams.
The Yankees swept a three game series at Fenway Park in April, while Boston responded with its four game sweep in June. New York then won three of four games during their most recent meeting in late August. �
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That history offers little certainty entering a short playoff series.
In a best of three format, one dominant pitching performance or one late home run can dramatically alter the entire matchup.
The winner will advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series. �
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Four Wild Card series launch the MLB postseason
Yankees against Red Sox is only one part of a packed opening round.
The Philadelphia Phillies opened their National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves at 2 p.m. ET.
The Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros at 5 p.m., followed by Boston against New York at 8 p.m.
The opening day concludes with the Chicago Cubs visiting the San Diego Padres at 10 p.m. ET. �
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Every Wild Card matchup is a best of three series, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday and decisive Game 3 contests, where necessary, on Thursday.
All games in the Wild Card round are being carried across NBC platforms, marking the return of MLB postseason baseball to NBC for the first time since the 2000 American League Championship Series. �
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Yankees face an immediate October test without their captain
New York still possesses formidable pitching despite losing its biggest offensive star.
After Schlittler starts Game 1, Max Fried is scheduled for Game 2. Gerrit Cole would be lined up for a potential deciding Game 3.
Boston plans to start veteran Sonny Gray in Game 2, with Ranger Suárez available if the series reaches a third game. �
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The stakes could hardly be higher.
One of baseball’s oldest rivalries is back in October, the season is on the line immediately, and the Yankees must now prove they can survive without Aaron Judge.
For Boston, it is an opportunity to complete a remarkable turnaround by eliminating its greatest rival on its own field.
For New York, it is a chance to repeat last year’s Wild Card triumph and keep its World Series ambitions alive.
By the end of the week, only one of them will still be playing.
