The Yankees used the second half of Friday’s doubleheader to settle themselves after a long day in the Bronx, beating the Orioles 6-3 and turning their attention toward a familiar October visitor. Boston’s earlier win over the Cubs locked the Red Sox into the No. 5 seed, setting up a rematch of last season’s American League Wild Card Series with the fourth-seeded Yankees.
Bronx rematch waiting in the Wild Card round
The Yankees and Red Sox will open their Wild Card Series on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. New York won last year’s best-of-three matchup in three games, and manager Aaron Boone made clear that playing the new series at home matters to his club.
“I’d much rather have it here,” Boone said. “I want it in the Bronx. I want it with our fans. I think there’s certainly that advantage.”
- New York has secured the American League’s No. 4 postseason seed.
- Boston claimed the No. 5 seed with its first-game doubleheader victory against Chicago.
- The teams will meet in a repeat of the 2025 AL Wild Card Series.
- The Yankees took that previous series in three games.
Friday still brought 18 regular-season innings to clear from the schedule, but the second game offered a cleaner finish after the Yankees absorbed a 10-2 defeat in the opener. That loss came following CC Sabathia’s Monument Park enshrinement ceremony.
Five Yankees contribute to a six-run answer
Ryan McMahon put New York on the board in the fifth inning, lining an RBI double against Orioles starter Brandon Young, who completed five innings. The Yankees added on quickly once Baltimore went to its bullpen.
- Spencer Jones delivered an RBI single against Josh Walker in the sixth.
- Anthony Volpe drove in two runs with a ground-rule double off Anthony Nunez later in that inning.
- Heliot Ramos singled home a run in the seventh.
- Luis García Jr. followed with another RBI single in the seventh.
That collection of timely swings gave the Yankees a 6-3 win and a split of the single-admission twin bill, a useful reset with the postseason matchup now official.
Will Warren sharpens bullpen case
Will Warren supplied one of the more encouraging developments of the night, working 3 2/3 innings in relief. The right-hander gave up three hits, issued no walks and struck out seven Orioles.
Warren’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.5 mph out of the bullpen, up 0.8 mph from his season average. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón among the Yankees’ potential postseason starters, Warren is expected to work in relief during October.
The Yankees have not named a starter for Tuesday’s opener against Boston. Pitching coach Matt Blake said the club is considering Max Fried on extra rest or Cam Schlittler on his regular turn. Schlittler is in the mix for the American League Cy Young Award, while the Yankees weigh how best to arrange their rotation for a series that begins with the Red Sox back in the Bronx.
