Brief

Red Sox sweep Yankees to secure AL Wild‑Card berth

Boston swept New York in a three‑game series to claim the AL Wild‑Card berth, after a dramatic turnaround from a 32‑46 start.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:30:05 GMT

The Boston Red Sox swept the New York Yankees in a best‑of‑three American League Wild‑Card series, securing the No. 5 seed and a berth in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. The sweep followed a dramatic turnaround for the Sox, who improved from a 32‑46 record at mid‑season to a 32‑37 finish, the best record in the majors from that point forward. The series, played at Fenway Park, saw the Sox win all three games, with the Yankees unable to overcome Boston’s pitching and offensive resurgence. The victory also confirmed the promotion of Chad Tracy from interim to full‑time manager, replacing Alex Cora. The Yankees, who had chosen Cam Schlittler to start Game 1, were unable to capitalize on their pitching plans, and Aaron Judge’s calf injury remained a concern for the team’s roster decisions.

Key facts

Boston swept the Yankees in a best‑of‑three Wild‑Card series (nypost.com)
The Sox improved from 32‑46 to 32‑37 after mid‑season (nypost.com)
Chad Tracy was promoted to full‑time manager after the sweep (nypost.com)
Yankees chose Cam Schlittler to start Game 1 of the series (nypost.com)
Aaron Judge was rehabbing a calf strain during the series (nypost.com)

Background

The series followed Boston’s dramatic turnaround from a 32‑46 record at mid‑season to a 32‑37 finish, the best record in the majors from that point forward. The Yankees had selected Cam Schlittler to start Game 1, with Max Fried slated for Game 2 and Gerrit Cole for a potential Game 3. Judge’s injury status remained uncertain as the Yankees weighed roster options.

Timeline

2026-09-24 — Yankees announced possible rotation plans for Wild‑Card Game 1
2026-09-25 — Yankees and Red Sox set to meet in AL Wild‑Card round
2026-09-27 — Yankees named Cam Schlittler to start Game 1

Why it matters

The sweep secured the Red Sox a playoff spot and a chance to face the Rays in the ALDS, while the Yankees’ loss left them out of postseason contention.