AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Cam Schlittler vs. Payton Tolle

On Monday, May 4, 2026, at Yankee Stadium, the baseball postseason officially began with the Yankees hosting the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series. As the season was coming to a close, the 162-game marathon had reached the sprint phase. For this year's first matchup, the Yankees will rely on pitcher Cam Schlittler, who was the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award this season. Schlittler had a stellar performance in last year's Game 3, throwing eight shutout innings and allowing just five hits.

This year, however, Schlittler has faced some challenges at home, with a 2.98 ERA compared to 1.16 ERA on the road. But his talent for big moments during his young career makes him a valuable asset for the Yankees. In Game 1, the Yankees will field their lefty-hitting lineup, including Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario, while Willson Contreras, who missed significant time due to a right hand injury, starts for Boston.

The Red Sox will rely on pitcher Payton Tolle, who has been impressive as a young pitcher with a 3.03 ERA and a 3.04 FIP across 26 starts. Tolle's performance against the Yankees this season, where he allowed just one run in 13 innings over two starts, has earned him a spot in the AL Rookie of the Year race.