The New York Yankees are coming in hot to Tampa Bay for Saturday’s Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
On Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the New York Yankees completed a two-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox to win their American League Wild Card series before 49,004 fans.
New York’s 9–2 victory saw manager Aaron Boone’s lineup smack 14 hits, which included a sixth-inning three-run homer from Cody Bellinger and a fourth-inning solo round-tripper from Luis Garcia Jr.
Garcia, plugged into first base in Game 2, led the Yankees with a three-hit night.
In the two games played in the Bronx, New York tallied 18 runs while only surrendering two runs.
In speaking with reporters after Wednesday’s clincher, even Boone was pleasantly surprised at how hot his club’s offense is.
Boone said Boston “was a scary team,” particularly because of how well they pitched.
“We beat a really good team that deserves a lot of credit.”
He said they were down and out in the middle of the season, and “fought their way back to the end in the playoffs.”
“[I’m] really pleased at how we played.”
Next up for New York in the American League Division Series is the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
During the 13 regular season meetings between the two clubs, Tampa Bay won seven games, and the Yankees six games.
The first pitch for Game 1 in the best-of-five series is at 6:30 ET.
Wednesday’s Yankees starter Max Fried allowed just three hits in six innings of work.
In Tuesday’s 9–0 New York win, Cam Schlittler, likely the 2026 American League Cy Young Award winner, rang up 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings and held the Red Sox to two hits.
While the Yankees activated Giancarlo Stanton for the Wild Card Series to serve as a possible pinch-hitter, the club didn’t add their captain Aaron Judge to the roster.
Stanton hadn’t appeared in a regular season game since late April due to calf injuries.
The five-time All-Star is 44 home runs shy of 500. He has one more year on his contract with New York for $25 million, plus a $10 million buyout for 2028.
Judge, who has five more years on his contract at $40 million per year, was out of the Yankees lineup for more than three months while nursing a right rib fracture.
While his being added to the Division Series roster has yet to be determined, Judge made it clear to reporters going into Tuesday’s game that he is anxious to get back into Boone’s lineup.
“This is what it’s all about. This is why you put the work in the off-season and work during the season to get an opportunity like this, to get a chance to start the journey to the World Series.
“We’re going up against a tough opponent we faced all year long and had out battles back-and-forth. So I’d give anything to be out there and battle with the guys.”
Ben Rice of the New York Yankees hits a single against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning in game two at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Sept. 30, 2026. (Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)
New York’s offense in Game 1 was led by designated hitter Ben Rice.
Rice, in his second full season with the Yankees, collected four hits in five at-bats and six RBIs.
The Yankees slugger also connected for two home runs off of Red Sox hurlers.
Slotted in the leadoff spot in New York’s Game 2, Rice doesn’t seem fazed by participating in MLB’s postseason stage.
Right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen has been announced as Tampa Bay’s starter for Saturday’s game. New York is expected to throw either Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodan.
Tampa Bay is the 2026 American League East Division champion. The Rays finished 4.5 games ahead of the Yankees with a 98–64 record.
The winner of the Division Series moves on to compete in the American League Championship Series.
