The Boston Red Sox face a desperate elimination match against the rival New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. Manager Chad Tracy and his squad enter the contest following a devastating 9-0 defeat in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.
To keep their postseason run alive in the best-of-three series, Boston relies on 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray. Gray posted an impressive 18-5 record with a 2.72 ERA during the regular season. Meanwhile, New York counters with standout left-hander Max Fried on the mound.
Game 1 Dominance and Roster Blows
The high-stakes pitching matchup follows a dominant performance by Yankees starter Cam Schlittler on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old right-hander from Walpole, Massachusetts, struck out 10 batters over 6 ⅓ shutout innings while allowing only two hits and one walk to silence the Boston lineup.
Things went from bad to worse for the Red Sox after the opening loss. Young star Roman Anthony suffered new muscle strains in his right wrist, aggravating a previous injury. Anthony returned to Boston on Tuesday night for imaging, and manager Chad Tracy confirmed the outfielder was removed from the Wild Card Series roster.
“I feel sick to my stomach,” Anthony told reporters on Wednesday. “It doesn’t feel real to be honest.”
Roster Adjustments and Lineups
Major League Baseball approved a roster substitution allowing infielder Curtis Mead to replace Anthony. Mead, acquired at the trade deadline, is returning from an injury of his own after appearing in just one regular-season game for Boston.
For Wednesday’s must-win matchup, Red Sox manager Chad Tracy constructed a new batting order:
- Jahmai Jones (DH)
- Adley Rutschman (C)
- Triston Casas (1B)
- Wilyer Abreu (RF)
- Ceddanne Rafaela (CF)
- Curtis Durbin (3B)
- Niko Sogard (2B)
- Trevor Story (SS)
- Nate Eaton (LF)
The Yankees, holding a 1-0 series lead, look to secure a sweep and advance to the American League Division Series.
Historical Odds and Challenges
History suggests a difficult road ahead for Boston. Losing Game 1 of a best-of-three Wild Card Series has historically resulted in elimination for 21 out of 24 teams. However, the Red Sox are familiar with dramatic turnarounds and are looking to draw inspiration from last year’s postseason battles.
First pitch for Game 2 is set for 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium, with national television coverage provided by NBC and streaming options available through Peacock, DIRECTV, and Fubo.
