This is what all the fuss is about. Win or go home. Do or die. Now or never. All those cliches fit Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Both teams will send rookie pitchers to the mound for the deciding game. Walpole, Mass. native Cam Schlittler, 24, has made 14 regular-season starts for the Yankees.
Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early, 23, has just four regular-season starts under his belt.
According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, “It’ll be the first game in postseason history between two starters each making their 15th career appearance or fewer (regular season and postseason combined). The matchup will be the third-youngest in win-or-go-home games.”
Early, for his part, is ready to roll.
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“It’s gonna be really fun. You know, it’s 1-1 now, so it comes down to this game and I’m excited to get out there,” Early said Tuesday after the Red Sox lost Game 2, 4-3.
“I’m super excited about it. Really good feeling. Just ready to get out there,” Early continued. “Gotta go out there and trust my stuff. … Every pitch matters so really competitive games and competitive ABs, so just gotta go out there and do my thing.”
Those in the Red Sox clubhouse have faith Early will get the job done.
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“I think that he is very, very mature, both as a pitcher and as a human being,” Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito said, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “That combination lends itself to being prepared to take on a situation like this. The stuff is real. He’s throwing four or five pitches for strikes.
“You usually don’t see that in a young arm. You’ll see electric stuff. But the pitchability aspect is the real deal. I think it’s an advantage that they have never seen him before. Just take the ball and go,” Giolito added.
It’s because of Giolito that Early is getting the ball in Game 3.
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Before the Wild Card Series began, the Red Sox announced the right-hander is battling an elbow injury which will force him to miss the postseason.
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