Red Sox Announce Starters for Wild Card Series vs. Yankees

The Red Sox have made a decision on who will get the ball for the much-anticipated Wild Card rivalry matchup.

by Ezra Lombardi

Sep 28, 2026

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle (70) reacts during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park.

Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The stage is officially set. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. American League Wild Card Series. Payton Tolle vs. Cam Schlittler. Sonny Gray vs. Max Fried. The Rivalry.

Two clubs with undeniable firepower, rich history, and real hopes of hanging an American League pennant, battling once again in the first round of the postseason.

Reporting throughout last week suggested that the Yankees were considering starting Max Fried in Game 1 and saving their Cy Young ace Cam Schlittler for what would either be a close out or win-or-go-home Game 2. But they ultimately went with the obvious choice, announcing on Sunday that it will be Schlittler, the 25-year-old Walpole native, taking the ball on Tuesday night.

The Red Sox took their time with announcing the starting rotation. Chad Tracy and Craig Breslow were faced with a tough decision, staring down three pitchers that should undoubtedly get a game in what could end up being a two-game series.

With Tolle, they have the tremendous upside, with electric stuff and the energy to rise to the occasion in the Bronx. With Gray they have their ace, who has carried them from the start of the season with a career-best 2.72 ERA and an AL-best 18 wins. With Ranger Suarez, they have the track record of postseason excellence, boasting a 1.48 postseason ERA across four seasons in Philadelphia.

But the Red Sox made it official on Monday, revealing that the rookie Tolle will toe the rubber opposite Schlittler Tuesday night while the two veteran hurlers will follow in Game 2 and a possible Game 3.

In a short time, Tolle has emerged as Boston’s most dominant starter with the kind of moments that give the team a belief that they can steal Game 1 behind him. But there will be no bigger moment in his young career than this, having faced only one batter in the postseason (last year in New York) and having never made a start at Yankee Stadium.

Tolle’s only two starts against the Yankees came at Fenway Park this year, and both were dazzling. The 23-year-old was called up after not making the roster out of spring training to make his first start on April 23. He provided six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits, one walk, and striking out 11.

On June 26, he lifted Boston in the second of their four-game sweep of New York, holding a Judge-less Yankees lineup to just one hit over seven scoreless innings while punching out seven.

The Red Sox will be looking for a similar performance this time, though the setting will surely make it more difficult on the young lefty. But the matchup of Tolle and Schlittler, which appeared to grow increasingly likely over the past few days, gives even more juice to a Wild Card series that will already be the center of attention this week.

Depending on the result of Game 1, Gray will either have to play the role of extender or executioner, which Boston will feel good about with his strong season and veteran experience. Gray has shown an ability to battle his way to a win even when he doesn’t have his best stuff and also made his best start of the year against the Yankees in June when he took a no-hitter into the eighth to help complete the June sweep.

If the series is pushed to a Game 3, there aren’t many starters that give you as good of a chance to win as Suarez, who would go opposite Gerrit Cole. The 31-year-old has rounded into form in September after a strong start to the season and a shaky summer marred by injury. His postseason success is tough to ignore, and under a different circumstance would make him a no-brainer for Games 1 or 2.

This chapter of Red Sox vs. Yankees looks to be defined by the pitching matchup, and now it is set. The Yankees, leaning on what has worked all year, and the Red Sox turning to their young lightning rod to spark a huge win on the road. Behind them, trusted veterans eager to cement their names in club history with a win over their bitter rivals.