Who are the rookie pitchers starting the Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card game?

Connelly Early of the Boston Red Sox and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees, both making their first-ever MLB playoff starts, will take the mound in the decisive Game 3 matchup.

What is the significance of this Red Sox-Yankees playoff game?

The winner-take-all Game 3 will determine which team advances to the next round of the MLB playoffs, as the longtime rivals' seasons come down to the performances of these two young pitchers.

How did the Red Sox and Yankees' seasons lead to this crucial Wild Card game?

Both teams made moves in the offseason to bolster their rotations, but their seasons will now be decided by the first-ever playoff starts for rookies Connelly Early and Cam Schlittler.

Home / Sports / Rookie Pitchers to Decide Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Clash

Rookie Pitchers to Decide Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Clash

2 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Rookie left-hander Connelly Early to start for Red Sox in elimination game
Yankees turn to hometown rookie Cam Schlittler in crucial playoff matchup
Both teams' seasons come down to first-ever MLB playoff starts for the young pitchers

Rookie Pitchers to Decide Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Clash

On October 2nd, 2025, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will meet in a decisive Game 3 of their American Wild Card playoff series. Both teams have turned to rookie pitchers to start the crucial matchup, with the Red Sox sending left-hander Connelly Early to the mound and the Yankees countering with hometown product Cam Schlittler.

Early, a 23-year-old who made his MLB debut just last month, has impressed in his four starts for Boston, going 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He'll face the daunting task of pitching in Yankee Stadium for the first time in an elimination game. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Schlittler, a Walpole native who grew up a Red Sox fan, will make his first-ever playoff start after a solid rookie campaign for the Yankees.