One Good, One Bad, Wild Card Series

By Andrew Hefner

October 1, 2026

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The Boston Red Sox usually put up a good fight against the New York Yankees. The matchup is, after all, one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. Yet, for the first time I can remember, there was no fight back whatsoever. Sure, some pettiness from a certain Red Sox first baseman sparked some fire under the Yankees, but in the end the massacre, at least this time, took place in New York.

After a second straight blowout of the Red Sox, 9-2, let's take a look at One Good and One Bad from Game 2 of the 2026 American League Wild Card Series.

The Good

I feel like I am having flashbacks to one night ago, writing the first installment of this year’s postseason series. The Yankees scare me in the postseason. Last year’s Wild Card series went to three games; they lost to the Red Sox at Fenway a few years before, and yet writing this now, I feel the most at ease I ever have as a fan of this franchise. All cylinders were firing, and the Yankees took care of business without a hitch.

The Good to highlight tonight is one that I have been waiting a long time to be able to highlight after a game like this. The Yankees played small ball.

The home run is a part of the identity of the New York Yankees, and there is no doubt that Luis Garcia Jr’s smash to open scoring was impressive, but equally so was Spencer Jones getting three free bases after swinging at a pitch in the other batter's box. The same can be said for a Trent Grisham bunt that opened the floodgates late in the game or an Austin Wells sacrifice fly to add on one more insurance run.

I love seeing this team play with strategy, with boldness, and with just a bit of thought.

Four-for-four on stolen bases with Rutchman behind the dish and reaching safely on a dropped third strike is a clear sign of a new direction for the Yankees. Sure they may have clubbed a few more home runs here and there, but the fact that they found other ways to score runs makes me feel confident as the postseason continues to roll on.

The Bad

I am again struggling to find a large problem with the performance of last night’s game. I could nitpick the offense for not really showing up until late, or Will Warren’s one blunder, but I instead just want to break down a play that I found to be deeply concerning.

Trent Grisham returned from injury and got the start in centerfield, with Cody Bellinger in left, and Spencer Jones in right. That outfield lineup is nothing new, and has worked throughout the season when that trio played together. However, Trent Grisham is still not playing the position with hustle. “The Big Sleep,” as he is affectionately called, let a play slip after lightly jogging to a bloop in straightaway center that allowed Red Sox left fielder Nate Eaton to easily scamper into second with a double. On the broadcast, the announcers nailed it perfectly: “The Red Sox had done their homework." Trent Grisham put zero effort into fielding the live ball in center, and the Red Sox, who have seen Grisham make the same mistake time and time again this season, took advantage.

The Yankees lost a game in 2024 that ended the only World Series run in my memory because of poor, lazy defense. Why are they allowing themselves to repeat that? The pitchers deserve better, and the fans deserve better. I think Grisham has learned his lesson.

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First pitch of the ALDS is coming on Saturday, October 3rd at 6:30 pm on TBS. Drew Rasmussen will take the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, with the Yankees starter still to be named.