Party like it’s 2021, Boston Red Sox fans.
The Red Sox secured their spot as the second American League Wild Card team with a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 162.
As the No. 5 seed in the AL with an 89-73 record, Boston will face the No. 4 seed New York Yankees — the top AL Wild Card team — in a best-of-three series, with every game at Yankee Stadium.
Here’s a look at the Red Sox’ playoff schedule, with Game 1 set for Tuesday:
Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card schedule
- Game 1 at New York: Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 6:08 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 2 at New York: Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 6:08 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 3 at New York: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6:08 p.m. ET (if necessary)
The Red Sox are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 — when they also faced the Yankees in the first round.
Boston beat New York that year in a one-game, winner-take-all Wild Card matchup at Fenway Park, then dispatched the Tampa Bay Rays in four games in the AL Division Series. They jumped out to a 2-1 series lead over the Astros in the American League Championship Series but lost three straight games to lose the series in six. The Astros outscored the Red Sox 23-3 over those final three games.
A lot has changed in Boston over the last four years, as Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck (who is currently on the injured list) are the only holdovers from that 2021 team on this 2025 squad. The Red Sox still have the same manager, however, as 2021 was Alex Cora’s first year back with the team after serving a one-year suspension from MLB.
Can the Red Sox recapture that 2021 magic in 2025? History will be on their side in the Wild Card round, as they’ve won eight of their last nine postseason games vs. the Yankees — a run that began with Boston’s magical Game 4 win in the 2004 ALCS and continued with a four-game series win over New York in the 2018 ALDS.
If the Sox advance from this best-of-three Wild Card series, they’d play the Toronto Blue Jays, who won the AL East and earned the No. 1 seed in the American League with a 94-68 record.
Boston’s ace, Garrett Crochet, will start Game 1 on Tuesday, manager Alex Cora confirmed Sunday. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito will start Games 2 and 3, although it remains to be seen who will pitch each game.
