The resurgent Boston Red Sox are headed to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in their biggest series of the 2026 regular season.
Things were much different the last time these clubs faced off in late June at Fenway Park. Boston entered that four-game series seemingly at rock bottom with a 32-46 record, while New York sat pretty atop the American League East standings at 48-31.
The Red Sox pulled off a stunning sweep of their storied rival, marking the start of a historic run that included a franchise-record-tying 15-game win streak. Since the start of that series on June 25, Boston has been the best team in baseball with a 41-14 record.
That remarkable turnaround has placed the Red Sox in the second AL Wild Card spot with one month left in the campaign. This weekend’s series is a likely playoff preview, as New York would host Boston in the AL Wild Card Series if the season ended today. If the Sox take at least three of four at Yankee Stadium, they will overtake the Yankees for the top spot in the Wild Card standings.
Suffice to say, there’s plenty at stake heading into Friday’s series opener. Here are the top storylines for the weekend:
Tables have turned
On July 16, Yankees ace Cam Schlittler took aim at Red Sox fans with a cocky quote during an interview with The Athletic:
“They can say whatever they want… but they’re not really in a position to be talking, considering how the standings are,” he said of Sox fans trolling him. “Whatever they want to say, it’s just kind of useless. It just goes in one ear and out the other.”
The Red Sox were seven games behind the Yankees when Schlitter made those comments. Now, they’re 2.5 games back with a chance to overtake their archrival for the top AL Wild Card spot and second place in the AL East.
Boston owns a 41-14 record since June 25, when it started its four-game sweep of New York. The Yankees have gone a modest 27-26 in that span.
Postseason implications
If the Red Sox win at least three of their four games in the Bronx, they will overtake the Yankees and move into position to host the Wild Card Series at Fenway Park as the No. 1 AL Wild Card.
Last year, New York hosted Boston in the Wild Card Series and won in three games.
Reinforcements coming?
Outfielder/designated hitter Roman Anthony, shortstop Trevor Story, and utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa are currently rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester. All three are in Worcester’s lineup for Thursday night, but there’s a chance at least one of them will join the big-league club in New York this weekend.
The question is, who gets sent down? Role players like Nick Sogard, Mickey Gasper, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, and Jahmai Jones have stepped up during Boston’s remarkable turnaround.
Inserting Anthony back into the lineup should be relatively simple, but Story and Kiner-Falefa will shake up the infield mix, and it’s far from a guarantee that either will be impactful. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has some difficult decisions to make.
Who’s hot
Red Sox
- Mickey Gasper: .417/.576/1.167, 5 HR, 12 RBI in nine games since call-up on Aug. 17.
- Jarren Duran: .321/.345/.643, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last eight games (game-winning extra-innings grand slam on Tuesday).
- Erik Miller: 0.00 ERA, 18 K, 3 BB in 10 appearances since joining Boston at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline (10.1 IP).
Yankees
- Luis Garcia Jr.: .306/.354/.569, 5 HR, 11 RBI in 19 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.: .435/.519/.739, 1 HR, 5 RBI over last seven games.
- Cam Schlittler: 1-0, 1.47 ERA, 22 K, 6 BB over last three starts (18.1 IP).
Who’s not
Red Sox
- Wilyer Abreu: .048/.130/.095, 0 HR, 1 RBI over last five games.
- Jake Bennett: .5.73 ERA, 21 K, 7 BB over last four starts (22 IP).
- Patrick Sandoval: 5.66 ERA, 21 K, 12 BB over last four starts (20.2 IP).
Yankees
- Heliot Ramos: .113/.230/.189, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 16 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
- Trent Grisham: .162/.326/.324, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last 10 games.
- Jose Caballero: .100/.222/.100, 0 HR, 3 RBI over last 13 games.
