Red Sox and Yankees Set for 2026 MLB Wild Card Series

The iconic rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees reignites as they face off in the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series. Scheduled as a best-of-three series, these games will be broadcast exclusively on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN. As fans gear up for the postseason, there’s a lot to anticipate.

Schedule and Viewing Information

The series kicks off on Tuesday, September 29 at Yankee Stadium, with Game 2 on Wednesday, September 30. A possible Game 3 is slated for Thursday, October 1. All games will start at 8:00 PM ET.

• Game 1: Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN
• Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN
• Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 1, Time TBA on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN

The series will take place at Yankee Stadium, providing the Yankees with home-field advantage.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Starting pitchers remain undecided, but the Yankees are expected to consider Cam Schlittler and Max Fried for the early games. The Red Sox may rely on rookie Payton Tolle, along with veterans Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez.

Season Series Recap

Throughout the 2026 regular season, the Yankees edged out the Red Sox with a 7-6 series record, going 4-2 against Boston at home. Notably, the Yankees eliminated the Red Sox from the previous year’s AL Wild Card Series.

Historic Rivalry Moments

The Red Sox and Yankees have a storied playoff history. From the dramatic 2004 ALCS comeback by Boston to New York’s 1999 ALCS victory, this rivalry is steeped in memorable moments.

Players to Watch

Aaron Judge: Despite injury concerns, Judge plans to play, emphasizing Yankee Stadium’s October magic.

Cam Schlittler: With an impressive 1.95 ERA, Schlittler is a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award.

Payton Tolle: A standout rookie, Tolle’s prior success against the Yankees may play a key role.

Aroldis Chapman: As a top closer, Chapman returns with Garrett Whitlock, forming a formidable bullpen duo.

MLB Wild Card Series Format

This year’s Wild Card Series are structured as best-of-three matchups. The higher-seeded teams will enjoy home-field advantage through the series from September 29 to October 1.

• AL/NL No. 6 seeds face AL/NL No. 3 seeds
• AL/NL No. 5 seeds face AL/NL No. 4 seeds

Where to Watch

Catch all MLB Wild Card games on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN. Peacock subscriptions offer access to the games on various devices, while NBCSN is also accessible through YouTube TV, Fubo, and Xfinity.