NEW YORK — Thursday’s decisive Game 3 between the Red Sox and Yankees was originally slated to start at 6:08 p.m. ET, just like the first two games of the series. Wednesday’s results around the league changed things.
The Dodgers’ 10-5 win over the Reds to finish off a two-game sweep opened up Major League Baseball’s late television window, so the Red Sox and Yankees will now play at 8:08 p.m. on Thursday. The game will air on ESPN, as originally scheduled.
MLB planned to keep the same order for Thursday as it had for the first two days of Wild Card Series play but had contingency plans if one, two or three series were over in two days. Game 3 of Tigers-Guardians will move to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m.) and Game 3 of Padres-Cubs will move to 5:08 p.m. (from 2:08 p.m.). The Red Sox and Yankees will play the finale of the day.
Thursday’s winner-take-all game will pit two rookies in Boston lefty Connelly Early (1-2, 2.33 ERA) and Yankees righty Cam Schlittler (4-3, 2.96 ERA) on the mound. It’s the second time the Red Sox and Yankees will face off in a winner-take-all game in the last five seasons; Boston defeated the Yankees, 6-2, in the 2021 Wild Card Game at Fenway Park.
“Obviously it is going to be loud here,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Two rookies, Game 3, Wild Card, Yankees-Red Sox. Imagine that. Should be a fun night.”
The winner of Thursday’s game will fly to Toronto and have a workout at Rogers Centre on Friday before Game 1 against the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. If the Red Sox advance, that game is at 1:08 p.m. If it’s the Yankees, it’s at 4:08 p.m.
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE CHANGES, PER MLB:
DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. on ESPN).SD @ CHC moves to 5:08 p.m. ET/4:08 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC).BOS @ NYY moves to 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
Fans looking to watch these MLB Postseason games for free can do so using DIRECTV, which offers a free trial, or FuboTV, which also offers a free trial and up to $30 off your first month. Fans can also watch MLB games for free through MLB.TV, which offers a free trial and has different packages to choose from, including one that allows fans to listen to radio broadcasts with no blackout restrictions. Sling TV does not have a free trial but does offer other promotional offers to watch the game. You can also stream ESPN Unlimited on any of those devices, and bundle your plan with NFL+ Premium or with NFL+ Premium, Disney+ and Hulu. Additionally, those with DirecTV, FuboTV or Hulu + Live TV can access ESPN Unlimited through their package.
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