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Rookie Pitchers to Decide Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Clash
2 Oct
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
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.
The winner-take-all affair promises to be a thrilling showdown, as the longtime rivals' seasons come down to the performances of these two young pitchers. Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed confidence in Early, noting his ability to rack up strikeouts, while Yankees skipper Aaron Boone is counting on Schlittler's poise in the high-pressure situation.
