After splitting Saturday’s doubleheader, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will face off for the final time in the regular season in Sunday’s series finale from Yankee Stadium. With both teams neck-and-neck for the top wild-card position in the American League, Sunday’s contest could prove to be the most important of either team’s regular season. 

Entering Sunday, the Yankees hold a three-game lead over the Red Sox for the top wild-card spot and home-field advantage in what seems like an increasingly inevitable matchup in the first round of the playoffs. The two sides also enter Sunday’s finale knotted at six games apiece in the season series, meaning the winner of the game will clinch the season series and a potential playoff tiebreaker should they end the season with the same record.

After falling to the Yankees in three games in the 2025 Wild Card series, home-field advantage seems crucial for both sides. After starting the season 17-26 at Fenway Park, the Red Sox have once again turned their home park into a real advantage, going 17-6 at Fenway since July 1. A win on Sunday would effectively be worth two games in the standings for either team. 

When Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow signed the 30-year-old left-hander Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract in the offseason, it was so he could make starts like Sunday’s. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the now two-time All-Star since returning from the injured list on July 27, as he has posted a 4.00 ERA in his five starts, a stark difference from the 3.15 he posted in the 17 prior to landing on the IL. 

What has been most concerning about Suarez’s rough stretch has been his inability to get deep into games, averaging just over four innings per start. However, Suarez has a penchant for delivering in big moments, as his 1.48 ERA over 42.2 postseason innings helped make him so attractive to Breslow during free agency. 

After being shut out in two of their last four contests and hitting just .200 with runners in scoring position over their last seven games, the Red Sox offense will get a massive boost as they are expected to activate 22-year-old phenom Roman Anthony off the 60-day injured list after missing over three months with a torn ligament in his right ring finger. 

Anthony played eight games on a rehab assignment with both Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, hitting .280/.367/.600/.967 with two home runs and seven RBI. Despite struggling before landing on the injured list, Anthony has shown flashes of stardom in both his rookie campaign in 2025 and as a part of Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. His return will be a welcome addition to a struggling Boston lineup. 

First pitch between the Red Sox and Yankees is set for 1:35 p.m ET. Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA) will be opposed by right-hander Will Warren (8-6, 4.39 ERA) for New York.