Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy has been keeping his pitching plans for this week's wild card matchup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx a secret. However, with under 36 hours until first pitch in Tuesday's Game 1, Tracy met with the media and finally revealed the rotation. 

Here's what you need to know: 

As has been expected after a reshuffling of the rotation ahead of last week's series against the Cleveland Guardians, Boston will turn to the 23-year-old rookie to get things started in New York. Tolle has been Boston's best pitcher since the All-Star break, posting a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts, ranking in the Top-10 among all starters with at least 60 innings pitched in strikeouts per nine innings (11.69, 4th). 

Overall, Tolle cemented himself as one of the best young arms in baseball, posting a 3.03 ERA in 26 starts, and ranking in the top five among all rookie starters in ERA (4th), strikeouts per nine innings (10.35, 2nd), walks per nine (2.42, 7th), FIP (3.04, 1st), and fWAR (4.1, 2nd)

In two starts against the Yankees in 2026, Tolle dominated, allowing only one earned run on four hits while striking out 18 and walking only four. Tolle is also the only pitcher on the Boston staff with the electric stuff that could match New York's Game 1 starter, Cam Schlittler, in shutting down the opposing lineup. 

However, Tolle has recorded only one out in Yankee Stadium in his big-league career: a brief relief appearance during last year's wild card series. 

Again, no surprises in Boston's Game 2 starter as Tracy will hand the ball to 36-year-old veteran Sonny Gray. Gray has inarguably been the Red Sox' best starter in 2026. After entering the season with questions about how effective he could be late in his career, Gray has passed every test with flying colors. In 29 starts, Gray has posted a 2.72 ERA, the fifth-lowest mark in the American League and eighth-lowest in baseball. 

Most importantly, even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he has done well to limit damage; in his 29 starts, he has allowed more than three runs on four occasions. In two starts against New York in 2026, Gray has allowed only three earned runs on nine hits while striking out 12 and walking only four. In his career, Gray has a solid record of playoff success, posting a 3.26 ERA in 30.1 innings. 

New York will send fellow veteran Max Fried to the mound opposite Gray. 

If needed, the Red Sox will turn to their big-ticket free-agent acquisition for a win-or-go-home Game 3, Ranger Suarez. The 30-year-old All-Star signed a five-year, $130-million deal with the Red Sox in the offseason, in part because he posted an impressive 1.48 ERA over 42.2 playoff innings with the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was an up-and-down regular season for Suarez: after an incredible first half that saw him post a 3.15 ERA in 17 starts en route to his third career All-Star appearance, Suarez landed on the injured list with an adductor strain. After his activation on July 27, Suarez put together his worst stretch of performances, posting a 5.01 ERA in seven starts. He did, however, end the season on a high note, allowing only three earned runs over 24.2 innings in September. 

In three starts against New York in 2026, Suarez struggled, allowing 11 runs on 20 hits for a 6.06 ERA, including a disastrous outing in which he allowed six earned runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone will counter with 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole. 

After weeks of discussing what felt like an inevitable playoff series, Tolle and Schlittler will square off in Game 1 of the best-of-three series on Tuesday night from Yankee Stadium. First pitch is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. 

Zach Coe and David Azer are back on the 'Entering Kenmore' Podcast, previewing the Red Sox' Wild Card matchup with the Yankees. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts or in the YouTube player below.