Yankees give Schlittler Game 1 against Boston. Cole may not start at all.

Cam Schlittler will start Tuesday's American League Wild Card Series opener against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, according to MLB's September 27 series preview. Max Fried is lined up for Game 2. Gerrit Cole would start Game 3 only if the best-of-three series reaches a decider.

That order is the news, not just Schlittler's name on a probable-pitcher list. The Yankees considered Fried for the opener before selecting Schlittler. By reserving Cole for a possible third game, New York could win or lose the series without him making a start. MLB says Carlos Rodón could be available from the bullpen while potentially preparing for an AL Division Series opener.

Schlittler finished the regular season 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA, MLB's preview reports. His selection also creates an immediate rematch of last October's deciding Wild Card game. Against Boston, he struck out 12 over eight scoreless innings to send the Yankees forward. That outing explains the intrigue, but it does not award New York a head start this time.

The choice and its consequences

The practical advantage of putting Schlittler first is straightforward: the Yankees can use one of their strongest season-long performers before the short series has turned against them. The trade-off is equally visible. Cole is not guaranteed a turn unless the first two games split. Those are consequences of the announced order, not a claim about manager Aaron Boone's private reasoning.

Fried brings another proven option to Game 2. MLB notes that he threw eight scoreless innings at Fenway Park on April 22, one of his two starts against Boston this season. A single prior outing is useful context, not a prediction for a postseason rematch.

Boston has not announced whether Sonny Gray or Payton Tolle will open the series. Its manager said one would likely start Game 1 and the other Game 2, with Ranger Suárez the apparent Game 3 choice if necessary. A Yankees matchup breakdown should therefore remain provisional until the Red Sox set their order.

What Boston has not decided

The series begins Tuesday, September 29, at 8 p.m. Eastern in the Bronx, with NBC carrying Game 1 in the United States. With no room to recover from two losses, the first pitching decision matters immediately. Schlittler now gets the ball, and Boston gets its chance to answer what happened last October.