The Yankees have not beaten the Red Sox in an MLB postseason series since 2003.
Boston has won three straight fall battles since, most recently in the 2021 wild-card game.
Carlos Rodon (18-9, 3.09 ERA), who capped off his most effective season as a Yankee, takes the ball for Game 2 on Wednesday. Rodon progressed in limiting hard contact after an erratic 2024.
Brayan Bello (11-9, 3.35 ERA) opposes him for Boston after also making steps forward in 2025, delivering improved command and consistency. His sinker-heavy arsenal has translated to a healthy ground ball rate of 50 percent.