The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox finalized their 2026 American League Wild Card Series rosters on Tuesday, with both clubs making notable activations and omissions.
New York activated slugger Giancarlo Stanton and reliever Garrett Crochet, but superstar Aaron Judge was left off the Yankees squad.
Stanton returns after missing five months with three separate calf strains and will serve as a pinch-hitting option off the bench.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that the designated hitter will not start against Boston's left-handed pitching-heavy staff.
"I just give him a ton of credit, because after this last setback a month ago, he probably could have just taken his ball and gone home," Boone said.
Boone praised Stanton's determination throughout his rehabilitation, noting that the veteran never stopped working despite multiple physical obstacles.
"And, like, he’s never stopped.
Even through the frustration of having a couple of different setbacks, he’s never stopped working and trying to, if he can, be some kind of option.
And he’s at that point now," Boone said.
The Yankees optimized their Game 1 lineup with right-handed hitters such as Anthony Volpe, Paul Goldschmidt, and Amed Rosario.
Starting pitcher Ryan Weathers missed the Wild Card round as he recovers from a forearm flexor strain, though center fielder Trent Grisham was activated following a hamstring injury.
"With his track record, I’ll take his presence and his ability to handle situations like this as good as anyone," Boone said of Stanton.
Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried expressed confidence in Stanton's ability to impact crucial playoff moments.
"I’ve seen him a lot. He’s been working really hard to get back," Fried said.
"I couldn’t be happier for him.
I think that when he gets the opportunity to make an impact in the game, he will," Fried added.
Boone acknowledged the challenges of roster construction for potential future postseason rounds.
"I know he’ll handle the moment mentally, emotionally," Boone said.
"And hopefully, maybe, he’s got a big swing or two in him," Boone added.
Regarding the decision to start Volpe over left-handed hitter Jazz Chisholm Jr., Boone explained the strategic matchup considerations communicated to Chisholm.
"You’ve seen how I felt about not being in games in the playoffs," Chisholm said.
Boone highlighted the ongoing importance of Chisholm's role despite the Game 1 benching.
"I just texted [Chisholm], like, ‘Hey, you might be the most important person in the building tonight, and we need you to be ready to go for the biggest spot, potentially,’" Boone said.
"Obviously, he’s going to play a huge role for us if we’re gonna get deep in the playoffs and win a world championship," Boone added.
Addressing the pitching staff decisions, Boone explained the choice to hold back Weathers for subsequent playoff rounds.
"I felt like I probably would have had one inning with him in this series," Boone said.
"If we’re able to move on, I feel like he might end up being a real weapon for us," Boone added.
For the Red Sox, former starting pitcher Garrett Crochet made the roster as a reliever after recovering from left shoulder inflammation and a lat strain.
Crochet had been sidelined since April 25.
"I’m just excited," Crochet said.
"It means a lot.
When you're on the IL, you're kind on a lonely island, and now to be a part of the team again feels good," he added.
Boston manager Chad Tracy cited Crochet's fastball velocity during recent live batting practice sessions as the key factor in activating him.
"The stuff," Tracy said.
"The last two live BPs, he was up to 96.5 [mph] in a live BP setting in [Fenway Park], and then I think he was 95-plus in Fort Myers at noon with nobody there.
When this guy's in the zone, if it's coming in there the way you think it can, and the ability to completely miss bats and wipe an inning out, that's a chance you're gonna take with a pitcher like that," Tracy said.
Medical evaluations and daily strength testing confirmed Crochet's readiness for short bullpen stints.
"Just checking those strength numbers, that's all it was," Tracy said.
Tracy noted that the training staff monitored Crochet's recovery parameters continuously.
"As he's been going through this process, there’s been grip strength, shoulder strength, all the stuff that they do.
And doing them the next day after he throws, are those in normal range?
Everything checked out on that end, so we're in a good spot with him," Tracy said.
Crochet confirmed his readiness to pitch whenever called upon during the series.
"No clue," Crochet said.
"I'll go until they take the ball from me," he added.
Crochet reflected on the challenging recovery process that delayed his return until the postseason.
"It was obviously a lot longer than I expected," Crochet said.
"Been busting my tail just to kind of give myself a fighting chance, and I feel like I did that," he added.
Having pitched as a reliever earlier in his professional career, Crochet expects relative familiarity with the role.
"I think anytime that you're stepping into a role that you've done before, there's a sense of comfort there," Crochet said.
"Anything that happens [in this series] probably won't be too comfortable, but that’s OK. I look forward to embracing it," he added.
Tracy noted that adding Crochet to the postseason roster proved straightforward once medical clearings were obtained.
"I don’t think it was an overly difficult decision.
It was just about making the right decision, having all of the information, outside of just Garrett saying he felt really good, which is a huge part of it, but also doing our due diligence medically," Tracy said.
Boston's Wild Card lineup also features first baseman Willson Contreras despite a hand injury, while infielder Mickey Gasper remains out with a biceps injury.
Left-hander Payton Tolle was named Boston's Game 1 starter against New York's Cam Schlittler.
