Yankees vs. Red Sox Prediction: Cam Schlittler Gets Revenge Rematch to Open Wild Card Series

The Yankees are handing the ball right back to the man who ended Boston’s season last October. Cam Schlittler, this year’s AL Cy Young favorite, gets the Game 1 nod when the Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night for the start of the American League Wild Card Series, a best-of-three rematch of last year’s do-or-die round between these two rivals.

New York finished 93-68 as the No. 4 seed, four and a half games ahead of Boston’s 87-75 mark as the No. 5. The Yankees also won the regular-season series, 7-6, including a 4-2 edge at home, which matters since Yankee Stadium hosts every game of this set. This marks the seventh time the Yankees and Red Sox have squared off in the postseason since 1999, and New York has the momentum after winning last year’s meeting.

The Man on the Mound Boston Can’t Escape

Schlittler is the story here. A year ago in this exact round, he struck out 12 over eight scoreless innings to close out Boston in the decisive game. Yankees manager Aaron Boone reportedly gave real thought to starting lefty Max Fried instead, but ultimately trusted his ace with the opener again. Fried follows in Game 2, with Gerrit Cole (10-9, 3.61 ERA) lined up for a potential Game 3 and Carlos Rodón available in relief throughout.

Boston is still finalizing its own Game 1 plan, choosing between veteran righty Sonny Gray (18-5, 2.72 ERA) and rookie southpaw Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA), with the loser of that competition likely sliding into Game 2. Ranger Suárez would be Boston’s choice for a Game 3, if it comes to that. Manager Chad Tracy has options on the mound, which is more than can be said for his lineup health at the moment.

Health Questions Cloud Both Sides

Willson Contreras, Boston’s top power threat with 27 home runs on the season, has been nursing a right-hand injury since getting hit by a pitch on Sept. 17. He managed to DH in the regular-season finale, a positive sign, but his availability and effectiveness through a full series remain question marks worth tracking closely. Around him, the Red Sox will roll out Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, Jarren Duran in left, and Trevor Story at short.

New York has its own concern in Aaron Judge, whose right calf strain has Boone all but ruling him out for the Wild Card round, even as the Yankees captain keeps pushing to be activated. Without Judge, New York leans on a deep supporting cast that includes Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and Ben Rice, with the exact lineup shifting depending on whether Boston starts a righty or lefty.

A Season Series That Swung Both Ways

This rivalry lived up to its reputation all summer. The Yankees won four of the first five meetings, then Boston answered with a home sweep in June that kicked off a 15-game winning streak. New York got the last laugh, though, taking three of four in a late-August set and outscoring Boston 26-9 in that stretch. Both teams rank in the top three in the majors in team ERA, so anyone expecting a slugfest might be surprised by how tight these games play if the starting pitching holds up.

Given how competitive this series has been on paper, shopping around before locking in a Game 1 wager makes sense. A DraftKings promo code or a Caesars promo code can add extra value on top of whatever line you’re already eyeing, and checking live MLB odds right up until first pitch is smart with a rotation battle this fluid on the Boston side.

Prediction and Best Bet

Schlittler’s dominance in this exact spot a year ago, combined with a Yankees offense that beat up on Boston pitching all September, tips this one toward New York. The Red Sox will need Contreras at full strength and a strong bullpen effort to keep Game 1 within reach into the seventh inning.

• Prediction: Yankees 4, Red Sox 2
• Best Bet: Yankees on the moneyline

Betting Schlittler and the Yankees’ lineup in a spot where they’ve already proven they can dominate this exact opponent is the safer read for Game 1.