Yankees, Red Sox Face Historic Winner-Take-All AL Wild Card Game

The 2025 American League Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox has reached a dramatic winner-take-all Game 3, echoing historic do-or-die matchups in their long-standing rivalry. Yankees legend Bucky Dent made a ceremonial first pitch, recalling his iconic 1978 playoff moment, while the game’s stakes recall even earlier key contests such as the 1949 one-game playoff. The Red Sox will start rookie left-hander Connelly Early, who, at 23, is the youngest Red Sox pitcher in a postseason game since Babe Ruth and is making only his fifth major league start. Early’s impressive yet limited experience contrasts with the challenge he faces against the Yankees’ powerful offense, which led MLB in key offensive categories against lefties. The Red Sox leadership, including Alex Cora and Craig Breslow, expressed the unique pressures of managing and playing in such high-stakes games, highlighting the emotional intensity of this historic rivalry. This game encapsulates why the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry remains a cultural and sporting spectacle, with the winner moving on to face the Toronto Blue Jays and the loser ending their season.