On Tuesday, October 1, 2025, the New York Yankees opened their postseason against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The game began under strong control from Yankees ace Max Fried, who was making his first playoff start with New York.
Fried delivered a standout performance, going 6.1 innings while allowing four hits, walking three, and striking out six. He threw 102 pitches and kept Boston scoreless. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead on an Anthony Volpe solo home run and carried that advantage into the seventh inning.
After Fried retired Jarren Duran to begin the top of the seventh, manager Aaron Boone walked to the mound, took the ball from his starter, and signaled for reliever Luke Weaver. Boone’s move drew immediate attention, and within minutes, the game’s momentum changed.
- Max Fried pitched 6.1 innings of shutout baseball, striking out six before being removed at 102 pitches.
- Aaron Boone turned to Luke Weaver, who gave up two runs without recording an out, allowing the Red Sox to take the lead.
- Boston closed out a 3-1 win, and Boone’s decision immediately drew heavy criticism from fans and media.
Bullpen Struggles Swing the Game to Boston
Weaver entered and struggled immediately as he gave up a hit and a walk before Masataka Yoshida lined a go-ahead single. Weaver was pulled without recording an out, but the damage was done as Boston surged ahead 2-1.
The Red Sox added another run in the ninth against David Bednar, extending the lead to 3-1. The Yankees mounted one last rally, loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Giancarlo Stanton struck out, Jazz Chisholm flied out, and Trent Grisham popped up, leaving the runners stranded. Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman secured the save for Boston, closing out the victory.
Boone Explains His Decision, Fried Responds
After the game, Boone explained his thought process for removing Fried despite the strong outing. “I wanted him to go out and get Duran and felt like we were lined up,” Boone said, mentioning that Boston had pressured Fried in recent innings and his pitch count had climbed past 100.
“I wanted him to go out and get Duran and felt like we were lined up”
Aaron Boone discusses the decision to pull Max Fried after 6.1 innings in Game 1 pic.twitter.com/OzOlJZUQgD
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 1, 2025
Fried offered his own perspective in his postgame press conference. “I definitely exerted a lot of energy trying to get out of that, but I definitely had enough in the tank for whatever the team needed,” he said. Fried added that he felt good until Boone came to take the ball from him.
“I definitely exerted a lot of energy trying to get out of that, but I definitely had enough in the tank for whatever the team needed”
– Max Fried pic.twitter.com/Nn4oKIvuFv
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 1, 2025
His final line—6.1 innings, 102 pitches, four hits, three walks, six strikeouts, and no earned runs—showed the ace had done enough to give his team a chance.
Context of Fried’s Postseason Record
Fried had entered the 2025 postseason with an uneven playoff track record. In 20 prior postseason appearances, including 12 starts, he held a 2-5 record and a 5.10 ERA, having allowed 40 earned runs and 10 home runs in 67 innings.
His regular season in 2025 with the Yankees had been a different story, as he led Major League Baseball in wins. Game 1 was an opportunity to carry that success into October, but Boone’s early move to the bullpen cut short what had been a dominant showing.
Fans Voice Frustration
Yankees fans quickly voiced anger over Boone’s call. One fan wrote, “It was good season ..we absolutely needed this game and we had it til Boone was thinking of saving Fried for next series but next series will be opening day next year. Fire Boone!”
Another posted, “The Yankees under their Awful Manager Aaron Boone, would be the team that has the bases loaded with no outs, and not score. Aaron Boone F’d The Yankees again, pulling Max Fried for Luke Weaver who immediately gave the Red Sox the lead Fire Aaron Boone!”
A third message read, “Taking out Fried mid inning was so dumb. PLS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FIRE BOONE IDC IF WE MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES AGAIN. FIRE HIM.”
Sportswriter Gary Myers added his view: “Yankees just showed everything that is wrong with baseball. Max Fried had a four-hit shutout with one out in 7th. Threw only 102 pitches. Boone takes him out with 1-0 lead. Brings in Weaver. Three batters later, it’s 2-1. The computer must have said to take out Fried.”
Yankees just showed everything that is wrong with baseball. Max Fried had a four-hit shutout with one out in 7th. Threw only 102 pitches. Boone takes him out with 1-0 lead. Brings in Weaver. Three batters later, it’s 2-1. The computer must have said to take out Fried.
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) October 1, 2025
Betting Markets Adjust Ahead of Game 3
Sportsbooks moved quickly to update odds for the deciding Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. DraftKings opened the Yankees as -153 favorites with the Red Sox at +126, and a total set at 8.0. As of Thursday afternoon, the line shifted across major books.
FanDuel listed the Yankees at -158 and the Red Sox at +134, with a run line of -1.5 (+134) / +1.5 (-162) and a total of 7.5. BetMGM showed Yankees -160, Red Sox +135, with the total at 7.5 (U -115 / O -105). Caesars and ESPN BET reflected similar movement, pricing New York between -160 and -165 with Boston at +140. Covers’ consensus odds placed the Yankees at -160 with an over/under of 8.0.
This movement—from the -153 opener at DraftKings to -160/-165 across multiple books—showed increasing support for New York. Analysts are concerned about Boston’s bullpen strain after Game 2, when Brayan Bello exited early and the Red Sox relied on six relievers. The projected Game 3 starters, rookies Cam Schlittler (4-3, 2.96 ERA) for New York and Connelly Early (1-2, 2.33 ERA) for Boston, added to the volatility of the market.
Expert predictions echoed the odds. BetMGM’s Shane Jackson advised taking the Yankees’ moneyline at -160, citing home-field advantage and bullpen conditions. Action Network’s Nick Martin discussed the uncertainty of a rookie-versus-rookie matchup in his October 2 preview. FanDuel’s model gave New York a 57.3% win probability.
Yankees Prepare for Winner-Take-All
With the series tied 1-1 after New York’s 4-3 victory in Game 2, the Yankees will host the Red Sox in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday, October 2, at 8:08 p.m. ET. The victor will advance to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.
Looking ahead, Boone expressed confidence despite the criticism. “We’ve been playing with a lot on the line seemingly every single day. We’ll be ready to go and I expect us to come out and get one tomorrow,” he said.
