The rivalry reignites under the lights at Yankee Stadium as the New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox for Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series. With the series tied 1-1, this winner-take-all matchup carries the weight of decades of bad blood, and both teams know a slip could end their postseason run right here in the Bronx. The game, originally slated earlier, got pushed back by MLB to a 7:08 p.m. ET start, giving fans a bit more time to settle in amid the crisp October air.
Indeed, the Yankees clawed back from a Game 1 loss—where Boston edged them 3-1 on September 30—with a gritty 4-3 victory in Game 2 the next night. Aaron Judge, ever the powerhouse, smashed a home run that shifted momentum, while the Red Sox relied on solid pitching from Garrett Crochet to keep it close before falling short. Tonight's pitching duel pits the Yankees' Max Fried against Boston's Tanner Houck, both arms showing promise but with question marks after uneven regular seasons. Fried, in particular, has that veteran poise, but his command has faltered lately.
Lineups are out, and the Yankees boast a stacked order: Judge leading off the heavy hitters, followed by Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton looking to exploit Boston's bullpen woes. Over on the Red Sox side, Rafael Devers anchors the infield, with Masataka Yoshida providing that clutch outfield presence—his .285 average this year speaks volumes. Trent Grisham, filling in admirably for the Yanks in center, has been a revelation with his glove work, snagging key outs in Game 2. Stats from the series so far? Yankees batting .240 collectively, Red Sox at .225, but walks and timely hits have decided these tight contests.
However, injuries linger—Boston's Justin Wilson is sidelined with arm fatigue, forcing Alex Verdugo to step up big. Where to catch it? ESPN's got the broadcast, with streaming on the MLB app or services like YouTube TV for cord-cutters. The atmosphere in the stands will be electric, no doubt, as these AL East foes battle for survival.
One can't help but wonder if this game will echo the classics of old, or forge a new chapter in the endless saga.