The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew one of baseball’s biggest rivalries tonight in Game 1 of the 2026 MLB Wild Card Series, with two young pitchers taking the mound at Yankee Stadium.
Cam Schlittler will start for the Yankees, while Payton Tolle will get the ball for the Red Sox in Tuesday night’s postseason opener.
Yankees vs. Red Sox Game 1 Starting Pitchers
Boston Red Sox: LHP Payton Tolle
2026 record: 9-6
ERA: 3.03
Strikeouts: 171
New York Yankees: RHP Cam Schlittler
2026 record: 14-6
ERA: 1.95
Strikeouts: 239
The matchup gives Game 1 a fascinating storyline, as both pitchers have already enjoyed success against their opponent during the 2026 season.
Cam Schlittler Starts Game 1 for Yankees
The Yankees are turning to Cam Schlittler for one of the biggest starts of his young career.
Schlittler enters the postseason after an outstanding 2026 campaign, finishing 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts. He was particularly effective against Boston, going 2-1 with a 0.74 ERA across four starts against the Red Sox during the regular season.
That success against Boston makes Schlittler an important piece of New York’s attempt to take an early lead in the Wild Card Series.
Payton Tolle Gets the Start for Red Sox
Boston will counter with Payton Tolle, the 23-year-old left-hander who emerged as an important part of the Red Sox rotation.
Tolle finished the season 9-6 with a 3.03 ERA and 171 strikeouts. More importantly for Game 1, he performed extremely well against the Yankees.
Across two starts against New York, Tolle posted a 0.69 ERA and held Yankees hitters to a .093 batting average.
His ability to neutralize the Yankees lineup could be critical with Boston opening the series on the road.
Yankees vs. Red Sox Game 1 Information
Matchup: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Event: 2026 MLB Wild Card Series – Game 1
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Yankees starting pitcher: Cam Schlittler
Red Sox starting pitcher: Payton Tolle
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
Yankees vs. Red Sox Pitching Matchup
On paper, Game 1 sets up as a potential pitchers’ duel.
Schlittler brings a 1.95 season ERA and impressive numbers against Boston, while Tolle has already demonstrated that he can shut down the Yankees lineup.
With every game carrying enormous importance in a short Wild Card Series, the performances of Cam Schlittler and Payton Tolle could go a long way toward determining which AL East rival takes control of the series.