Red Sox. Yankees. Single game elimination. Is there any better way to start off the 2021 MLB playoffs?
Perhaps the biggest rivalry in North American sports will take center stage on Tuesday as they face off in the American League wild card game at Fenway Park with a trip to Tampa Bay and the American League Divisional Series on the line.
After the Red Sox used Chris Sale on Sunday to start their final regular-season game, they will turn to Nathan Eovaldi to start opposite Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
MORE: Watch the 2021 MLB postseason live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
The pitching matchup will pit the American League's pitching WAR leaders against one another, according to Fangraphs. Eovaldi recorded a 3.75 ERA, but a 3.36 FIP across 182.1 innings of work and a 5.6 fWAR. Eovaldi struggled in his last start against New York, however, as he allowed seven runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings.
Cole has been the ace the Yankees hoped for when they signed him for nine years and $324 million ahead of the 2020 season. He has a 3.23 ERA, 2.92 FIP and 5.3 fWAR in 181.1 innings this season. His last time out against Boston, when he started against Eovaldi, he collected the win after allowing three runs over six innings with six strikeouts, three walks and five hits.
MORE: Yankees vs. Red Sox: A history of MLB's biggest rivalry in elimination games
The season series couldn't have been more even. The Red Sox won the series 10-9 and outscored the Yankees 75-74. Yeah, it was that close.
Sporting News has you covered with all the information you need to watch the Yankees take on the Red Sox on Tuesday.
What channel is Yankees vs. Red Sox on today?
- TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2
- Live stream: ESPN+ | ESPN app | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
ESPN will roll out its "Sunday Night Baseball" lineup to handle the broadcast of the Yankees vs. Red Sox on Tuesday. Matt Vasgersian will be on the call for play-by-play with Alex Rodriguez set to provide analysis and Buster Olney reporting from the sideline. In addition, there will also be a Statcast edition of the broadcast with Jason Benetti, Eduardo Perez and Mike Petriello on ESPN2.
MORE: How each AL playoff team could win the World Series | SN's postseason predictions
Those hoping to stream the game can find it on ESPN+, the ESPN app or on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
In Canada, all postseason games are available on Sportsnet and SN1.
Yankees vs. Red Sox start time
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 5
- First pitch: 8:08 p.m. ET | 5:08 p.m. PT
The Yankees vs. Red Sox game is scheduled to start at 8:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
MLB playoff schedule 2021
National League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Wednesday, Oct. 6 | Cardinals @ Dodgers | 8:10 p.m. | TBS |
Division Series
TBS will handle the broadcast for all NLDS games in both series.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | TBD @ Giants, Game 1 | TBD | TBS |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 1 | TBD | TBS |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | TBD @ Giants, Game 2 | TBD | TBS |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 2 | TBD | TBS |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Giants @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | TBS |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 3 | TBD | TBS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Giants @ TBD, Game 4* | TBD | TBS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Brewers @ Braves, Game 4* | TBD | TBS |
| Thursday, Oct. 14 | TBD @ Giants, Game 5* | TBD | TBS |
| Thursday, Oct. 14 | Braves @ Brewers, Game 5* | TBD | TBS |
*If necessary
Championship Series
TBS will continue its National League playoff coverage with coverage of every NLCS game.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | TBS |
| Sunday, Oct. 17 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | TBS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 19 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | TBS |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | TBS |
| Thursday, Oct. 21 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | TBS |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | TBS |
| Sunday, Oct. 24 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | TBS |
*If necessary
American League
Wild card
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Tuesday, Oct. 5 | Yankees @ Red Sox | 8:08 p.m. | ESPN |
Division Series
MLB Network and FS1 will carry all the ALDS games, until potential Game 5s, which would be broadcast exclusively on FS1.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | TBD @ Rays, Game 1 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 1 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | TBD @ Rays, Game 2 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Friday, Oct. 8 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 2 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Sunday, Oct. 10 | Rays @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Sunday, Oct. 10 | Astros @ White Sox, Game 3 | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Rays @ TBD, Game 4* | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Monday, Oct. 11 | Astros @ White Sox, Game 4* | TBD | MLB Network/FS1 |
| Wednesday, Oct. 13 | TBD @ Rays, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 |
| Wednesday, Oct. 13 | White Sox @ Astros, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 |
*If necessary
Championship Series
FOX and FS1 will split coverage of the ALCS.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Friday, Oct. 15 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | FOX |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | FOX |
| Monday, Oct. 18 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | FOX/FS1 |
| Tuesday, Oct. 19 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | FS1 |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | FS1 |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | FS1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | FOX/FS1 |
*If necessary
World Series schedule
Every World Series game will be on FOX.
| Date | Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Tuesday, Oct. 26 | TBD @ TBD, Game 1 | TBD | FOX |
| Wednesday, Oct. 27 | TBD @ TBD, Game 2 | TBD | FOX |
| Friday, Oct. 29 | TBD @ TBD, Game 3 | TBD | FOX |
| Saturday, Oct. 30 | TBD @ TBD, Game 4 | TBD | FOX |
| Sunday, Oct. 31 | TBD @ TBD, Game 5* | TBD | FOX |
| Tuesday, Nov. 2 | TBD @ TBD, Game 6* | TBD | FOX |
| Wednesday, Nov. 3 | TBD @ TBD, Game 7* | TBD | FOX |
*If necessary
