The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are set to renew their fierce rivalry beginning Thursday at Yankee Stadium, with both teams jockeying for positioning in the American League wild card race. The Yankees hold a 1½-game lead over the Red Sox as they open a pivotal four-game series that carries significant playoff implications.
Currently, both teams trail the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays by four or more games in the AL East. The Red Sox hold a slim half-game advantage over the Seattle Mariners for the second wild card spot, making every game in this series critical for their postseason hopes. Dustin May’s pitching adjustments have been a noticeable factor for the Red Sox as they seek to narrow the gap with the Yankees and improve their playoff chances.
Game details and pitching matchups for the series
The four-game set will unfold from Thursday, August 21, through Sunday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. Each game will begin in the early evening or afternoon, with Thursday’s opener scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET and the Sunday finale, featuring Dustin May, set for 7:10 p.m. ET. FOX will televise the games, and streaming options include Fubo.
Thursday’s pitching matchup pits Lucas Giolito against Luis Gil at 7:15 p.m., followed by Brayan Bello facing Max Fried on Friday at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, Garrett Crochet will start opposite Will Warren in a 1:05 p.m. afternoon game. The series will conclude Sunday at 7:10 p.m. with Dustin May going against Carlos Rodón.
Aaron Judge’s potential return to the outfield
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has been sidelined from the outfield since July 25 after a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. He briefly spent time on the injured list and has returned to the lineup only as a designated hitter. However, new indications from Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggest that Judge might soon resume defensive duties, potentially this weekend.
The implications of Judge’s throwing injury remain uncertain as Boone stressed the need to protect Judge while allowing him to play.
“We’re trying to get through where he can let it go with ease and be able to protect himself,”
Boone said during a radio interview.
“I don’t think we’re going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year, but that’s OK, too. We’ve got to feel like he can go out there and be able to protect himself and represent himself.”
Judge disagreed with Boone’s assessment publicly, stating,
“I don’t know why he said that. He hasn’t seen me thrown the past two weeks. I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to [100%].”
Boone has since sought to clarify his remarks. As of Thursday, Judge holds a strong .330/.445/.684 slash line for the season, so his availability on defense would provide a significant boost for the Yankees.
Dustin May’s evolving pitching approach for Boston
Dustin May will start in the series finale Sunday, marking his fourth appearance for Boston since being acquired. In those starts, he has posted a solid 2.87 ERA along with improved strikeout and walk rates compared to his performance with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
During his time with the Dodgers, May had a 4.85 ERA and a 2.26 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but with the Red Sox over 15⅔ innings, he has lowered his ERA to 2.87 and improved his control, walking just 4.25 per nine innings. These adjustments stem in part from altering his pitch mix, notably increasing his use of four-seam fastballs and cutters while reducing reliance on his trademark sinker.
May explained his new strategy after his Boston debut, saying,
“Definitely more cutters…[the Red Sox] had the idea. In L.A., it was moreso just kind of use it as an influence, but they like it as a weapon pitch. I kind of agree. It can be really effective, it’s just gotta be executed.”
This change has helped May provide a valuable lift to Boston’s pitching staff as the team pushes for a wildcard spot.
Boston’s dominance in the season series against New York
Despite their struggling record recently, the Red Sox have held the upper hand in their regular-season confrontations with the Yankees. Boston has won five of their six meetings so far this year, including victories in each of the last five games.
Their head-to-head results this season include a Yankees win on June 6 (9-6), followed by Red Sox wins on June 7 (10-7), June 8 (11-7), June 13 (2-1), June 14 (4-3), and June 15 (2-0). Overall, the Red Sox have outscored New York by an 35-27 margin in these matches.
The Yankees, however, still have numerous opportunities to even the season series. After this week’s four-game set, the teams will face off again in a three-game series starting September 12, setting the stage for an intense late-season battle with playoff seeding on the line.
What this series means for playoff positioning
As the Red Sox aim to climb closer to the Yankees in the wild card standings, Dustin May’s improved pitching and Boston’s prior success against New York provide cause for optimism despite recent struggles. The Yankees, riding a five-game winning streak that included a historic nine-homer game against the Tampa Bay Rays, enter the series as slight favorites but face a determined Boston squad.
The outcome of this matchup will have major implications, potentially shaping the final wild card positions for the American League. With star players like Aaron Judge gearing up for possible full participation and pitchers like May evolving their game, these games could set a tone for both teams as they push toward postseason contention.