Yankees Red Sox Put Game 3 in Rookie Hands

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 12:30 AM ET

The kids are all right. With the season on the line, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are both handing the ball over to rookies. Cam Schlittler for the Yankees. Connelly Early for the Red Sox. A winner-take-all Game 3 in the Bronx decides it, and two kids with less than 25 big-league starts between them are holding the season in their hands. It fits the theme of this Wild Card round. Rookies are making an impact.

As Sarah Langs noted, this will be just the second winner-take-all game in postseason history started by two rookie pitchers, joining 2020 NLCS Game 7 (Dodgers’ Dustin May vs. Braves’ Ian Anderson).

Called up on July 9, Schlittler won his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium (5⅓ IP, 7 K vs. Mariners) and never really blinked after that. The 24-year-old righty went 4–3 with a 2.96 ERA, 84 K and a 1.22 WHIP in 14 starts down the stretch, earning Aaron Boone’s trust for this spot.

For extra context, the Elias Sports Bureau adds that both starters are entering with 15 career appearances or fewer, which makes this specific matchup a first of its kind.

Early has been a September jolt for Boston. Called up on Sept. 9 when Dustin May hit the IL, the Red Sox’s No. 6 prospect struck out 11 over five scoreless innings in his debut against Oakland, tying a franchise record for strikeouts in a first game. He followed with steady work — 2.33 ERA across his first four big-league starts — and now takes the ball for his fifth career start in a win-or-go-home Game 3.

Around the bracket, the rookie wave isn’t a cute subplot. There are rookies making their names in October.

The Cleveland Guardians pulled the most audacious move of the round: summoning Chase DeLauter and letting him make his MLB debut in Game 2. DeLauter became only the sixth player in MLB history to make his debut in the playoffs. He contributed a big defensive play that helped the Guardians rally and force a Game 3.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are carrying rookie catcher Dalton Rushing and rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki.

Chicago has kids in the everyday decision tree. Moisés Ballesteros hit his way onto the Cubs’ Wild Card roster and Matt Shaw has been steady at third.

Cincinnati has leaned right into it, too. Sal Stewart just became the youngest player in franchise history to start a postseason game.

And Detroit is trusting a rookie to run the show behind the plate. Dillon Dingler headlines a Tigers catching group built for traffic and chaos.

Schlittler and Early are the headline act, but the trend is the story—managers are handing leverage to rookies and living with the result. Labels are for laundry. October is for whoever gets it done.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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