NFL
By Billy Lewis
For the second straight season, the New York Yankees will face off against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series. Last season saw the emergence of Cam Schlittler in the winner-take-all Game 3. Schlittler used that momentum to have a Cy Young-worthy 2026 and will get the ball in Game 1 for the Yankees.
The Yankees took the season series 7-6, but the Red Sox used a four-game sweep in late June to jumpstart their playoff push. Boston entered that series 32-46 and 15.5 games behind first place. After sweeping the Yankees, Boston’s season had new life. The early season struggles do benefit the Yankees, as the Series will take place in Yankee Stadium.
Game One
The Wild Card series gets underway with Schlittler going up against rookie Payton Tolle. The Yankees saw Tolle twice during the regular season, splitting both games. Tolle was outstanding against the Bronx Bombers, combining for 18 strikeouts while only allowing one earned run.
Schlittler saw the Sox four times, including outdueling Tolle in an April 4-2 Yankees win. The Yankees were 3-1 against Boston when Schlittler started. Though the calendar still says September, this has the makings of an October classic. Runs should be hard to come by, so the Yankees have to take advantage of the Red Sox bullpen.
Game Two
Wednesday night in the Bronx will see Max Fried taking on ex-Yankee Sonny Gray. Despite his struggles in pinstripes, Gray has put together a great career, and this season is no different. Gray went 18-5 with an ERA of 2.72. Fried had an injury-riddled season, but has pitched well since returning from the IL.
Each pitcher went 2-0 against the opposition, so something’s gotta give in Game Two. Historically, the Yankees and Red Sox engage in scoreboard-filling slugfests, but this series has a different feel. The Yankees’ strength this season has been their pitching, and they will count on those arms to deliver.
Game Three (if necessary)
Last season’s Wild Card series went the distance, and Schlitter jumped on the scene in Game Three. If this series goes all three games, we will see Gerrit Cole and Ranger Suarez. Anything can happen in a short series, but the Yankees’ pitching should give them an advantage.
The status of Aaron Judge remains up in the air as he deals with his calf injury. It will be fun to see how Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. react to the bright lights of October. As long as the Yankees play well defensively to back up their pitchers, they have a great shot at advancing to the ALDS.
Prediction: Yankees win in 3, taking Games 1 & 3.
