Red Sox Announce 26-Man Roster for AL Wild Card Series vs Yankees Amid Giolito Injury

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have each announced 26-man rosters for the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium (Game 1, 6:08 p.m.). Boston confirmed Garrett Crochet will start Game 1 and Brayan Bello Game 2, but suffered a major blow when right-hander Lucas Giolito was ruled out of the wild-card round with elbow soreness, removing the presumed Game 3 starter from the roster. Giolito’s absence leaves Boston carrying 12 pitchers that include September call-ups Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison and Payton Tolle as the leading Game 3 (if necessary) options. The Yankees named Austin Wells as the Game 1 catcher to work with lefty Max Fried while club hot-hitter Ben Rice will begin the series on the bench as New York plans matchup-driven lineup decisions. With the rivalry series set, Giolito’s late injury and Boston’s thinner experienced pitching depth — versus New York’s matchup flexibility — are the key storylines that could decide who advances.