Red Sox–Yankees: The Biggest Series of the Season?

With the Boston Red Sox set to face the New York Yankees in what could be the biggest series of the season, the American League Wild Card picture is about to get very interesting.

As of Thursday, August 27, the Red Sox sit just 2½ games behind the Yankees in the standings. Boston currently holds the second Wild Card spot, while New York sits in the first Wild Card position. With four games between the rivals this weekend, the standings could look very different by Monday, August 31.

And there could be some reinforcements on the way. With Trevor Story and rising star Roman Anthony potentially returning, the Sox could have some interesting lineup decisions to make. So, if I were putting together Boston’s lineup for Friday night’s opener, here’s how I’d roll it out:

1. SS — Nick Sogard

Nick Sogard has continued to show that he belongs in the big leagues full-time. From his defensive ability and versatility to his knack for coming through with clutch hits, Sogard has given the Sox everything they could ask for.

Moving Sogard to shortstop would also provide a defensive upgrade and give Boston a reliable presence at the most important position on the infield. Even once Trevor Story is healthy, I think there’s a case for keeping Sogard at shortstop and letting Story contribute elsewhere.

2. CF — Ceddanne Rafaela

Rafaela is having his best season yet, and his defense alone has been must-see television. It seems like he’s turning into a human highlight reel, making spectacular diving plays in the outfield seemingly every night.

He has been chasing more pitches and striking out more than you’d like, but he’s still hitting around .276 and finding ways to contribute. His defense and athleticism make him a valuable piece of this lineup.

3. RF — Wilyer Abreu

Wilyer Abreu is the type of hitter you want coming to the plate in a big game. Every at-bat feels like it could turn into a game-changing swing.

He’s also leading the team in doubles and has been outstanding defensively. The Gold Glove-caliber right fielder has a cannon for an arm and could be on his way to another Gold Glove Award. Against the Yankees, having his defense in right field could be especially important.

4. 1B — Willson Contreras

Nobody else gets the cleanup spot in my lineup.

Nicknamed “Bowser,” Willson Contreras has been one of Boston’s biggest offensive threats all season. Last Friday, he launched a home run that traveled more than 450 feet—one that probably landed somewhere in Cambridge.

With 26 home runs and a team-leading RBI total, Contreras has established himself as the heart of the Sox lineup and is currently among the top five in American League MVP voting. If he gets hot during this series, the Yankees could have a serious problem.

5. 3B — Caleb Durbin

Caleb Durbin has completely turned his season around.

Early on, fans weren’t exactly giving the “Durbinator” a warm welcome. As the player brought in following the departures of Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman, expectations were high, and the early struggles—including some defensive miscues—made things even tougher.

But lately, he looks like a completely different player.

Over the past two weeks, Durbin has led the team in hits with 17 while hitting above .333. If he continues playing the way he has over the past couple of months, he could become a major contributor down the stretch and into the postseason.

6. DH — Roman Anthony

This is the return we’ve all been waiting for.

After what appeared to be a miraculous recovery following Marcelo Mayer’s trade, Roman Anthony is looking ready to return to the majors. During his rehab assignment, the young star has already launched two home runs and is hitting above .300.

He’s hitting like a big leaguer, so it’s time to let him play like one.

Putting Anthony at DH would allow him to focus on his offense while giving his injured finger some additional rest. If he’s ready to go, seeing Roman Anthony back in the lineup against the Yankees on Friday would be one of the biggest storylines of the weekend.

7. C — Adley Rutschman

Adley Rutschman has gotten off to a rocky start since joining Boston, but it’s important to remember the circumstances. After arriving at the trade deadline, he had a very short rehab assignment while working his way back from a wrist injury.

Now, he’s dealing with some elbow discomfort and has missed the past two games.

Reports indicated that Rutschman was feeling better Wednesday, but GM Chad Tracy kept him out of the lineup. With Thursday’s off day giving him additional recovery time, hopefully he’s ready to go Friday.

Considering the Sox had already won the Miami series, there was little reason to risk him in a game that wasn’t nearly as important as what’s coming this weekend. If he’s healthy, getting his bat back in the lineup against New York would be huge.

8. LF — Jarren Duran

Jarren Duran’s season has been a roller coaster.

His offense has been extremely streaky. In May, he looked like one of the best players in baseball and gave fans flashes of the 2024 version of Duran. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to maintain that level consistently.

But lately, he’s been finding ways to make an impact when Boston needs him most.

On Tuesday, Duran crushed an 11th-inning go-ahead grand slam against Miami to help the Sox win the game. He also leads MLB in RBI during the ninth inning or later.

That’s exactly why he remains such an important part of this roster. Whether he’s stealing bases, making plays in the outfield, dropping bunts or coming through with a clutch hit, Duran has a way of creating chaos for the opposing team.

9. 2B — Mickey Gasper

Mickey Gasper has been one of the biggest surprises since being called up following Masataka Yoshida’s hamstring injury.

On Tuesday, Gasper went 2-for-2 with two home runs and a walk, continuing what has been an incredible stretch at the plate. Since the beginning of August, he’s led the team in RBIs while posting eye-popping numbers: a .417 batting average, .576 OBP, 1.167 SLG and 1.743 OPS.

Obviously, eventually, the numbers will come back down to earth. That’s baseball. But when a player is this hot, you ride the hot bat.

Moving Gasper to second base also fills the hole created by moving Sogard to shortstop. Gasper played second in the minors, so he should be able to hold down the position while Boston figures out its long-term infield situation.

The Bench

Trevor Story, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Siegler, Eli White, Jamai Jones and Connor Wong

You’ll notice I left Story out of the starting lineup.

That’s intentional.

I don’t think he’s quite ready to face Major League pitching after struggling during his rehab assignment in Worcester. His .160 batting average there suggests he still needs some time to find his swing.

I’d still have him travel with the team and potentially get some opportunities during the four-game series, but I wouldn’t rush him into Friday night’s lineup.

Instead, I’d like to see Story get some work at second base rather than immediately jumping back into shortstop. That could give Boston another option while allowing Sogard to continue getting regular reps at short.

A Weekend That Could Change Everything

This four-game series has all the ingredients of a classic rivalry weekend: a tight Wild Card race, two teams fighting for postseason positioning, potential reinforcements returning and plenty of storylines surrounding both clubs.

By the time Boston and New York finish playing on Sunday, the Wild Card standings could look completely different.

The Red Sox have a huge opportunity in front of them.