Sports Desk

NEW YORK — There may be no more familiar postseason matchup in baseball than the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

And now the rivalry is returning to October.

For the second consecutive season, Boston and New York will meet in the American League Wild Card Series, with all three games scheduled for Yankee Stadium if the series goes the distance. The Yankees finished as the No. 4 seed, while the Red Sox enter as the No. 5 seed.

The Yankees won last year's Wild Card Series, 2-1.

This year, the Red Sox have another opportunity to change the story.

Two very familiar opponents

The Yankees won seven of the teams' 13 regular-season meetings in 2026, but Boston also had its moments — including a four-game sweep of New York at Fenway Park in June.

That history makes this more than just another playoff series.

Every pitch will be magnified.

Every mistake will be remembered.

And every big hit could become another chapter in one of baseball's greatest rivalries.

The Yankees bring a powerful rotation

New York has chosen young right-hander Cam Schlittler to start Game 1.

Schlittler went 14-6 with a remarkable 1.95 ERA during the regular season and has already demonstrated that he is comfortable pitching on the biggest stage. Max Fried is scheduled to follow in Game 2, with Gerrit Cole available for Game 3 if necessary.

That gives New York an imposing trio if the series reaches the deciding game.

The Yankees will also have the advantage of playing every game at Yankee Stadium.

Boston has its own answers

The Red Sox enter the series with a pitching staff that can make things difficult for New York.

Ranger Suárez, Boston's major offseason addition, finished his first season with the club with a 3.22 ERA over 28 starts. His postseason experience gives the Red Sox a veteran presence on the mound.

Boston's rotation also includes Sonny Gray and other pitchers who could become important as the series develops.

But the Red Sox have some health questions to answer.

Willson Contreras has been dealing with inflammation in his right hand, while Garrett Crochet has been working his way back from a long-term injury and had not pitched competitively since April 25. Boston is also monitoring the health of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

And then there is Aaron Judge

The biggest question surrounding New York may be whether Aaron Judge can participate.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Judge was unlikely to be part of the Wild Card Series because of a right calf strain, although Judge has continued working toward a possible return.

That is an enormous storyline because Judge is one of the most important pieces of the Yankees' lineup.

If he cannot play, New York will have to find other ways to replace his production.

October baseball at its best

This series has almost everything a baseball fan could ask for: two historic rivals, a rematch from last year's playoffs, strong pitching, dangerous lineups and the pressure of knowing that one team will be finished after two or three games.

The Yankees have home-field advantage.

The Red Sox have the opportunity to take that advantage away immediately.

And neither team needs to be reminded that in a best-of-three series, there is very little room for error.

Game 2 is Wednesday, September 30, at 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. If necessary, Game 3 will be played Thursday, October 1.