MLB playoffs: Would Yankees face Red Sox’s Chris Sale or David Price in ALDS Game 1?

The Boston Red Sox have 106 wins this season, giving them home-field advantage through the World Series. They will begin their playoff run on Friday, October 5, 2018 (10/5/18) at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. when they host the winner of the American League Wild Card game: the New York Yankees or Oakland A’s.

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Yankees fans who dare to look past the American League Wild Card Game know that a date with the Boston Red Sox looms in the American League Division Series.

The Red Sox, with 106 wins, have clinched the best record in baseball and home-field advantage through the World Series.

They clinched the American League East division title last Friday at Yankee Stadium.

The Red Sox will take the field for Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday, October 5th at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. against either the Yankees or the Oakland A’s.

But the Red Sox are wasting no time announcing their Game 1 starter, with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spilling the beans on Tuesday to MLB Network Radio. The Wild Card winner will get Cy Young Award candidate Chris Sale in Game 1 of the ALDS:

“He’s going to pitch tomorrow against the Orioles. That will be his last start of the season. He will stretch, pitch to 90-ish pitches and then be ready to go for 100 pitches for the postseason. He’ll be scheduled to start, I don’t think it will surprise anybody, the first day of the postseason … I don’t mean to usurp anyone’s announcement but I think it’s been one of those, it’s been pretty clear.”

Dave Dombrowski isn’t waiting on an opponent or a press conference to announce Chris Sale as the #RedSox Game 1 starter of the #ALDS#DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/wDKo9kSOl0

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) September 25, 2018

Sale has been on the disabled list twice since the All-Star break with left shoulder inflammation. 

He’s currently building up his arm strength for the playoffs, having pitched a total of 7.1 innings in his last three starts.

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For the year, Sale has made 26 starts, going 12-4 with a 2.00 ERA and 229 strikeouts (third in the American League) in 153.1 innings pitched.

Sale has faced the Yankees twice this year, winning both games while giving up one run in 13 innings of work, striking out 19 batters.

Price would be in line to pitch Game 2 of the ALDS for the Red Sox, and Yankees hitters would look forward to that. 

Price is 0-3 in four starts against the Yankees this season, with an unsightly 10.34 ERA.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.