AL Wild Card Game Thread: Yankees at Red Sox

The Oakland A’s didn’t make the playoffs, but apparently the league is still going to hold a full postseason anyway for some reason.

It begins Tuesday night with the AL Wild Card Game. The A’s coulda shoulda woulda been playing in this game, like they did in 2018 and 2019, but they fell short this year and instead the matchup will be the Boston Red Sox hosting the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The winner tonight will move on to the ALDS, where they’ll face the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays later this week.

Pitching for the Yankees tonight is Gerrit Cole, who might win the AL Cy Young. He got roughed up in two of his final three outings of the season, but in between stinkers he had a quality start at Fenway with six innings and three runs. Among Boston’s lineup, he’s allowed three homers to Rafael Devers this year, and one to Enrique Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi had a great summer too, leading the entire AL in fWAR. However, in his penultimate outing of the season, he got blasted by New York for seven runs. He’s allowed two homers to Giancarlo Stanton this year and one to Aaron Judge, among hitters in the Yankees lineup tonight.

Yankees lineup (away)

1. 1B Anthony Rizzo (L)
2. RF Aaron Judge (R)
3. DH Giancarlo Stanton (R)
4. LF Joey Gallo (L)
5. 2B Gleyber Torres (R)
6. CF Brett Gardner (L)
7. 3B Gio Urshela (R)
8. C Kyle Higashioka (R)
9. SS Andrew Velazquez (S)

• RHP Gerrit Cole

No D.J. LeMahieu or Luke Voit, who are both injured.

Red Sox lineup (home)

1. DH Kyle Schwarber (L)
2. CF Enrique Hernandez (R)
3. 3B Rafael Devers (L)
4. SS Xander Bogaerts (R)
5. LF Alex Verdugo (L)
6. RF Hunter Renfroe (R)
7. C Kevin Plawecki (R)
8. 1B Bobby Dalbec (R)
9. 2B Christian Arroyo (R)

• RHP Nathan Eovaldi

No J.D. Martinez, who is injured.

How To Watch

• Date: Tuesday, October 5
• Time: 5:08 p.m. PT
• TV (local): ESPN