Yankees vs. Red Sox: Key Rivalry Matchup and How to Watch on BBC…
Major League Baseball is back on BBC this Sunday as the New York Yankees face off against the Boston Red Sox in one of sports’ most storied rivalries. This matchup could be crucial for their playoff aspirations as the race for the postseason intensifies.
The game at Yankee Stadium kicks off BBC Sport’s coverage of five live MLB broadcasts over the next three weeks, which will include the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs.
You can catch all the action from 18:30 BST on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and app, with coverage starting on the Red Button at 19:30.
Origins of the Rivalry
Located just 215 miles apart, New York and Boston are home to two of Major League Baseball’s most successful teams. The Yankees, with 27 World Series titles, lead the league, while the Red Sox, with nine championships, are the third most decorated team.
The rivalry began in 1903, but it intensified in 1919 when the Red Sox controversially sold Babe Ruth, baseball’s greatest player, to the Yankees. The Red Sox, who had won three World Series titles with Ruth, then watched the Yankees dominate the sport for much of the 20th century. This period led to the famous “Curse of the Bambino,” a superstition that persisted until the Red Sox finally won the World Series again in 2004, ending an 86-year drought. Their most recent championship came in 2018, while the Yankees last won in 2009.
Current Standings and Stats
The Yankees lead the American League with an 86-62 record following a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox on Friday. Aaron Judge hit his 52nd home run of the season in that game, the highest in Major League Baseball, while his teammate Juan Soto is fourth with 39. Judge is favored to be named the AL MVP again, having set a new AL home run record in 2022.
For the Red Sox, Tyler O’Neill and Rafael Devers have hit 30 and 28 homers respectively. The Red Sox are 74-74 and are fighting for a playoff berth.
Both teams are in the AL East division, with the Yankees looking to secure a postseason spot ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, while the Red Sox are competing for one of the three wildcard positions. The playoffs will start on October 1, and the World Series is scheduled to begin on October 25.
Head-to-Head Record
Sunday’s game will conclude a four-game series that started on Thursday. The Yankees have won the first two games (2-1 and 5-4). Overall, the Yankees and Red Sox have faced each other 2,312 times, with the Yankees winning 1,258 and the Red Sox 1,040, with 14 games ending in ties. The Yankees also won both high-scoring games played in London in 2019. This season, the Yankees have a 6-5 record against the Red Sox, having won the last four matchups.
How to Watch MLB on BBC
The game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday will be broadcast live on BBC from 18:30 to 22:30 BST. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and app, with coverage starting on the Red Button at 19:30. This broadcast marks the beginning of five live MLB games on BBC Sport over the next three weeks, covering the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
BBC’s upcoming MLB schedule includes:
Sunday, September 22 (from 18:30): Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers
Sunday, September 29 (20:00): Final day of the MLB regular season coverage
Tuesday, October 1 (time TBC): Two Wildcard Series games
Saturday, October 5 (time TBC): Two Division Series games
