The Red Sox and Yankees have played each other over 2,000 times across their storied histories. But this week, they’ll meet for a rare playoff showdown in this year’s American League Wild Card series.
Whoever wins this series may earn some historic bragging rights: Entering this postseason, the all-time playoff record between the two sides is a dead heat with each club having 12 wins against the other.
It’s a chance to up the ante in baseball’s most intense rivalry with a spot in the AL Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on the line.
Speaking after the Sox final regular season game on Sunday, though, Boston manager Alex Cora didn’t need any extra motivation for what laid ahead for his team.
“It’s New York against Boston, you know. It’s gonna be big,” he said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that they haven’t been in this stage — but they have a lot of guys over there that they haven’t been in this stage, either. So, it should be fun.”
There’s been some memorable moments between the two since then, including 2004’s dramatic comeback in the ALCS. More recently, the Red Sox have had an advantage over the Yankees — they’ve won every postseason matchup since that 2004 win.
This year, Boston has beaten New York 9 out of the 13 times they met this season. And the Sox looked particularly good in the Bronx, where they went 5–2 this year.
That last part may come in handy. The Yankees had the better overall record this season, so they get homefield advantage for the best-of-three series. There’s no traveling back to Fenway for the Wild Card: Every game will be in the Bronx.
But Sox shortstop Trevor Story wasn’t daunted by having to go on the road when talking to reporters on Sunday.
“We’ve had good battles all season,” he said. “Recently we’ve played well there, and I think that always serves us well. But we know it’s gonna be a battle — we know it’s gonna be a grind — so we’re looking forward to get there.”
After Sunday’s game, Cora already knew what to expect heading into Game 1.
“It’s gonna be loud and, like always, if we pitch we’re gonna be OK,” he said.
That’s where the Red Sox should feel good about themselves.
Garrett Crochet is set to start on the mound for Boston in Game 1. The two-time All-Star was 3–0 in four starts against the Yankees this year.
He’s been a bright spot for a squad that got off to a bit of a shaky start but eventually found its footing. They got rid of one of their biggest stars in Rafael Devers earlier this summer, which led to some soul searching from fans.
This team, though, has come out on the other side looking strong. Yankees manager Aaron Boone even had some praise for the job Cora has done with the Red Sox, saying they’ve become one of the best teams in the league the second-half of the year.
“I think he’s played ‘The Little Engine That Could’ over there a little bit,” Boone said. “I think a lot of people knew the Red Sox were coming this year.”
Now, it’s playoff baseball. On the road. Against the Yankees. You can’t write a better script for a Sox team making to make waves in the postseason.
Given all of that, though, Cora is thrilled about where his team is at.
“We’re in October. That’s all that matters,” he said.
