If you want to be the best, you often have to beat the best. And as much as it pains me to say, the Red Sox were just that in 2018. Led by likely AL MVP, J.D. Martinez (who is strictly a DH, might I add), and the banged-up but highly-effective Chris Sale (17 IP in the last two months) — the Red Sox will take on the Yankees outside the ALCS for the first time.
This is just the fourth time since 1999 that the two heated rivals will face-off in the Postseason.
From Bernie Williams’ 1999 ALCS Game 1, 10th inning walk-off homer, to the 2003 ALCS that was prematurely marred by Pedro Martinez tossing Don Zimmer to the ground in Game 3 before culminating in now manager Aaron Boone’s iconic Game 7, 11th inning home run — it was only one year later that the Sox got their revenge.