MLB Baseball
2026-09-29 - Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : MLB Playoff Wild Card Game 1
Tuesday 29th September 2026 - Scheduled 8pm EST
1am (British Time)
Preview
The three American League East Playoff teams finished with the top three records in the entire American League, but the current format of the Major League Baseball Playoffs has worked against them.
The Tampa Bay Rays secured the Number 1 Seed, but the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have finished with the Number 4 and Number 5 Seeds and enter another Wild Card Series against one another. The winner will be taking on the Rays in the Divisional Round and so there is plenty of pressure on three teams that will feel they have capabilities of winning the World Series.
The format is what it is and so the Yankees and Red Sox have to prepare for what looked a likely Wild Card Series for several weeks.
With that being said, it is no surprise that both teams have got a plan in place as to how they are going to use the starting rotation and both the Yankees and Red Sox will be going with sophomore starters who have had very strong seasons.
Cam Schlittler will be getting the ball for the New York Yankees and concluded the regular season with a 14-6 record and 1.95 ERA, while his last nine starts ended with a 4-0 record and 1.17 ERA. It is a run that includes Cam Schlittler holding the Boston Red Sox scoreless in almost 6 Innings thrown and that means the pitcher has given up a single earned run in almost 20 Innings thrown against this American League East rival in 2026.
In his last regular season start, Cam Schlittler was removed from the game after 3 Innings with the Wild Card Series Game 1 in mind. He had won four consecutive decisions at Yankee Stadium prior to that start against the Tampa Bay Rays, while Schlittler completed 8 Innings as he held the Boston Red Sox scoreless in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series between these teams twelve months ago.
The Red Sox will go with Payton Tolle who had an inconsistent rookie season, but who has put together a 9-6 record and 3.03 ERA in his twenty-six starts in his second season in the Major League.
Payton Tolle has allowed just three runs in his three starts in September, which covered almost 18 Innings, while he is unbeaten in his last thirteen starts. During that time, Tolle has a 5-0 record with a 2.66 ERA, while the young pitcher has allowed a single run in 13 Innings thrown against the New York Yankees this season.
He also earned a single Out in the 2025 Playoffs against the New York Yankees without giving up a run in that very short time on the mound. However, this is a different test for Payton Tolle and that has to create some nerves.
The Red Sox swept a four game series against the New York yankees at the end of June, but have lost three of four against this rival since then.
Prediction
All eyes are going to be on the New York roster moves with the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham hoping to be available.
Giving the Yankees batting lineup that kind of boost will give them the edge over the Boston Red Sox, while New York have to feel the sophomore pitcher they are sending to the mound can out-duel Payton Tolle.
Nothing ever comes easy when the Yankees and Red Sox meet and especially not in the Playoff setting.
However, Cam Schlittler has shown his improvement this season having impressed in the Playoff last year and he can help lay the foundation for a home win in Game 1 of this Wild Card Series.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 3-1 Boston Red Sox
