Max Fried and Garrett Crochet take the Mound in Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Showdown

The rivalry needs no introduction. When the Yankees and Red Sox square off Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, everything else takes a backseat. But this isn’t just another chapter in baseball’s most storied feud—it’s a Wild Card Series opener featuring two All-Star lefties who know how to handle the bright lights.

The Max Fried Factor: Yankees’ New Ace Steps Up

Max Fried brings a serious pedigree to his first postseason start in pinstripes. The former Braves ace, who inked a massive $218 million, eight-year deal with New York, has been everything the Yankees hoped for and more. His season tells the story of adaptation and resilience.

Fried started hot, posting a dominant 10-2 record with a microscopic 1.92 ERA through his first 17 starts. Then reality hit. A nagging blister on his left index finger derailed his rhythm, leading to an ugly 3-3 stretch with a bloated 6.80 ERA over eight outings. Lesser pitchers might have crumbled under the pressure of a new uniform and sky-high expectations.

Not Fried. He closed the regular season like the ace the Yankees paid for, going 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his final seven starts. Against Boston specifically, he’s been surgical—1-1 with a 1.96 ERA across three matchups. The numbers speak to his ability to elevate his game when it matters most.

Crochet’s Postseason Debut

Standing opposite of Max Fried is Garrett Crochet, making his first career postseason start. The Red Sox southpaw brings playoff experience from his relief days with the White Sox in 2020 and ’21, but Tuesday represents uncharted territory as a starter under October’s unforgiving spotlight.

Boston acquired Crochet in December and immediately locked him up with a six-year, $170 million extension that kicks in next season. The investment looks smart—Crochet went 3-0 with a 3.29 ERA in four starts against New York this year, proving he can handle the rivalry’s intensity.

The Matchup That Could Define the Series

This isn’t just about two talented lefties—it’s about contrasting styles and approaches. Fried brings postseason savvy from his days in Atlanta, while Crochet offers the unpredictability of a pitcher making his starting debut on baseball’s biggest stage.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is already strategizing, planning to start left-handed Austin Wells behind the plate—Wells caught 27 of Fried’s 32 regular-season starts—and likely deploying right-handed Paul Goldschmidt at first base to combat Crochet’s southpaw delivery.