BBC Sport

The Yankees sit top of the American League East meaning they are on course to qualify for the play-offs which ultimately lead to the World Series in October, although they have to keep winning to stay ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox have work to do to make it into the postseason. Sitting third in the American League East behind the Yankees and Orioles, they are fighting it out for a Wildcard place which would keep their chances of reaching the World Series just about alive.

They can take encouragement from the Texas Rangers, who despite not winning their division in 2023 were able to scramble all the way to a World Series title via the Wildcard.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC iPlayer

Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium will be shown live on the BBC from 18:30 BST.

You can watch it on BBC iPlayer, plus the BBC Sport website and app, with coverage beginning on the Red Button from 19:30 BST.

It is the first of five live MLB broadcasts on BBC Sport over the next four weeks, covering the end of the regular season and the start of the play-offs.

BBC's upcoming MLB schedule:

• Sunday, 22 September (from 18:30 BST): Baltimore Orioles v Detroit Tigers
• Sunday, 29 September (20:00 BST): Coverage of the final day of the MLB regular season
• Tuesday, 1 October (time TBC): Two Wildcard Series games
• Saturday, 5 October (time TBC): Two Division Series games

Image source, MLB Europe

BBC Sport

Star player Aaron Judge is enjoying another remarkable season for the Yankees, hitting more Home Runs (51) than anyone else in Major League Baseball. Yankees fans are encouraged to “All Rise” when he steps up to bat and commentators often respond with calls of “Judgement Day” or “Case Closed” when he finds the stands.

If Judge continues to dominate, he could well be on course to be named the American League’s Most Valuable Player for the second time. He has been helpfully supported this season by right fielder Juan Soto, who has hit 38 home runs of his own.

For the Red Sox, three-time All Star Rafael Devers is always dangerous and has hit 28 Home Runs this season, while centre fielder Jarren Duran has smashed more doubles and triples than anyone in the American League.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport

The two teams first played one another in 1903 but the rivalry gained serious traction when baseball’s greatest ever player Babe Ruth was controversially sold to the Yankees by the Red Sox in 1919. The Red Sox, who had won three World Series titles with Ruth in the side, had to watch their rival dominate the sport for decades at their expense.

The era popularized the term “Curse of the Bambino” – a reference to Ruth’s nickname and a superstition Red Sox fans would carry until they finally broke their losing streak and won the World Series again in 2004, 86 years on from their last championship.

Image source, Getty Images

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England's Harry Brooks and Will Jacks take on a Major League Baseball challenge to test their home-run-hitting skills.