Baseball’s Iconic Rivalry Continues in 2026 MLB Wild Card Series
Introduction
Baseball fans can gear up for the return of one of the sport’s most iconic rivalries as the Boston Red Sox face off against the New York Yankees in the Wild Card Series. This showdown marks the second consecutive year these teams will meet in the postseason. Catch all the action on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
Schedule and Broadcast Information
The series begins on Tuesday, September 29, at Yankee Stadium. Game 2 follows on September 30, and a potential Game 3 could take place on October 1. Times for the games are as follows:
- Game 1: Tuesday, September 29, 8:00 PM ET
- Game 2: Wednesday, September 30, 8:00 PM ET
- Game 3: Thursday, October 1, Time TBD
Watch these games exclusively on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
Venues and Coverage
All games will be played at Yankee Stadium. Coverage includes recaps by Hall of Famer CC Sabathia and Ahmed Fareed. These will be available on Peacock and NBC Sports’ YouTube channel.
Pitching Matchups
While starting pitchers are still to be finalized, here are potential matchups:
- Yankees: Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole
- Red Sox: Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez
Season Series and Playoff History
The Yankees narrowly won the season series 7-6. Past playoff meetings include:
- 2025 AL Wild Card: Yankees 2-1 over Red Sox
- 2021 AL Wild Card Game: Red Sox 6-2 win
- 2018 ALDS: Red Sox victory leading to a World Series title
- 2004 ALCS: Red Sox historic comeback
- 2003 ALCS: Yankees win then lost in World Series
- 1999 ALCS: Yankees win en route to World Series
- 1978 AL East tiebreaker: Yankees win
Players to Watch
Several key players will shape the series:
- Aaron Judge: Expected to return after injury
- Cam Schlittler: AL Cy Young favorite
- Payton Tolle: Breakout rookie pitcher
- Aroldis Chapman: Top reliever
Format and Viewing Details
The MLB Wild Card Series follows a best-of-three format with home-field advantage given to higher seeds. All games occur from September 29 to October 1.
Subscriptions for Peacock are available, supporting various devices. Full device compatibility is listed online. NBCSN can be accessed via YouTube TV, Fubo, and Xfinity.