New York Yankees Joel Sherman Starters’ two gems provide clear reminder of Yankees’ identity By Joel Sherman Published Sep. 30, 2026, 11:57 p.m. ET Max Fried held the Red Sox to one run over six innings in the Yankees' 9-2 AL wild card series-clinching win on Sept. 30, 2026 at the Stadium. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post It Is their identity. Their strength. Their best pathway from the feel-good of eliminating the Red Sox in the wild-card round for a second straight year to try to claw to the Canyon of Heroes.
The Yankees have their best rotation in more than two decades. And after a season of delays and detours, they finally have their four best going round and round at the ideal time. The Red Sox offense showed up in The Bronx cold, and Cam Schlittler and Max Fried put their whole season on ice.
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The two games played out almost identically — Schlittler and Fried holding down Boston until the Yankees lineup came unleashed. It was 7 ¹/₃ shutout innings for Schlittler in the opener and one run in six innings for Fried on Wednesday night in what became a 9-2 Yankees triumph.
That moves the Yankees to a division series showdown with the AL East champion Rays that begins Saturday night at Tropicana Field. Nothing will change as far as how the Yankees enjoy their best chance to join last year’s Knicks in forever. Like Boston, Tampa Bay excelled from the mound this year, notably from the rotation. The Yankees were better — and appear at their best right now.
