Red Sox vs. Yankees Wild Card 2026:
Game times, NBC/Peacock & the Game 3 exception

FIRST PITCH, AT A GLANCE

The Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees for Game 1 of the 2026 AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Game 2 is Wednesday at the same time. Both games air on NBC and stream on Peacock. Game 3 is played Thursday only if the teams split the first two games.

All times below are Eastern. Games 1 and 2 are set; Thursday appears on your calendar only if the series is tied after Wednesday night.

Red Sox–Yankees Wild Card schedule

This rivalry gets the prime-time slot, and the entire best-of-three stays at Yankee Stadium because New York is the higher seed.

NBC or Peacock: which one do you need?

Already get NBC? You don’t need Peacock just for this series. Peacock is the direct streaming choice; NBC remains the television option through an antenna, cable package or eligible live-TV service.

MLB also lists national radio coverage through ESPN Radio. Spanish-language coverage is available across Universo and Univision for the Wild Card round; check the day’s local listing for the exact game placement.

Why Game 3 can move from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday’s schedule depends on how many Wild Card series still need a deciding game. For most scenarios, a Red Sox–Yankees Game 3 remains at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Skip the playoff-scenario math. If the series reaches 1–1 on Wednesday night, open MLB’s schedule before setting a Thursday reminder. A 2–0 sweep means the series is over.

What time is the game where you live?

These conversions cover the confirmed 8 p.m. ET starts on Tuesday and Wednesday. If Thursday’s game moves to 7 p.m. ET, every local time moves one hour earlier.

How the best-of-three format works

• The first team to win two games advances.
• The Yankees host every game because the higher seed hosts the full Wild Card Series.
• There is no travel day between Games 1, 2 and a possible Game 3.
• A two-game sweep ends the series Wednesday night.

The Wild Card format is different from the later Division Series, which is best-of-five and uses games at both teams’ ballparks.

Five quick answers before first pitch

What time is Red Sox vs. Yankees Game 1?

Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET—7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT and 5 p.m. PT.

Is the game on regular NBC?

Yes. MLB lists Red Sox–Yankees on NBC and Peacock for Games 1 and 2, plus Game 3 if it is needed.

Is Game 3 definitely happening?

No. Game 3 happens only if the teams are tied at one win each after Wednesday’s Game 2.

Why are all the games at Yankee Stadium?

The Wild Card round is a best-of-three series hosted entirely by the higher seed. The Yankees are the No. 4 seed and the Red Sox are No. 5.

Can the Thursday time change?

Yes. MLB’s conditional schedule keeps it at 8 p.m. ET in most cases, but one two-game Thursday scenario moves it to 7 p.m. ET. Check again after Wednesday’s results.

Official sources

• MLB/Yankees — 2026 Wild Card Series game times
• MLB — 2026 postseason broadcast schedule
• MLB — postseason format and seeding
• NBC Sports — Wild Card broadcast announcement
• Peacock — 2026 MLB Wild Card coverage