Yankees and Red Sox set for AL wild-card showdown in the Bronx

The AL wild-card round will feature a repeat of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, with the Yankees hosting a best-of-three series in the Bronx beginning Tuesday. Boston earned the second wild-card berth by defeating the Cubs in a doubleheader, locking in the matchup. The two teams split the regular season 7-6, and the Yankees entered last year’s playoffs as the eventual winners before losing to the Blue Jays in the ALDS.

This year’s winner will meet the AL East champion Rays in the next round. Boston’s strong left-handed rotation may pose problems for New York’s left-leaning batting order, a concern heightened by Aaron Judge’s ongoing calf injury. The series revives a storied postseason rivalry that could shape the AL postseason landscape.