NJ.com | Max Goodman: Tonight marks the beginning of the MLB Postseason, and with next to no room for errors Aaron Boone looks to be leaning on his best matchups for Game 1 in the Bronx against the Red Sox. Facing Boston’s ace and Cy Young contender Garrett Crochet, Ben Rice will be sitting on the bench waiting for an opportune time to pinch-hit while Austin Wells and Paul Goldschmidt play behind the plate and at first base, respectively. Amed Rosario and José Caballero are also expected to be in the starting lineup at second and third base, meaning Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be waiting in the wings as well (Goodman doesn’t outright confirm this one, but Jack Curry has put this out and he’s as plugged into the Yankee decision-making as anyone can be).

NY Post | Dan Martin: Much will be made of Aaron Judge’s legacy if he doesn’t have a postseason to remember, but another Yankee star is in need of a strong October run as well. Max Fried has a ring from his time with the Atlanta Braves, and he even pitched six shutout innings in the clinching Game 6 of that World Series, but his overall postseason numbers leave a lot to be desired. Now coming off of a career year after putting on pinstripes, Fried could double down and change the narrative around him with an elite showing, and it all starts with how well he duels with Crochet.

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MLB: The annual All-MLB ballot was unveiled yesterday, and several Yankees are up for the honor of being selected to the First and Second Team rosters. Chisholm makes it on the second base list, Rice and Giancarlo Stanton both are eligible under the DH section, the entire Yankee outfield is up for selection, while Fried and Carlos Rodón make the cut for starting pitchers and David Bednar was the lone Yankee reliever to have his name listed.

MLB: Speaking of honors, MLB announced that Aaron Judge was named the AL Player of the Week to close out the regular season. It’s the 15th time that Judge has earned the accolade, and the third time he’s gotten it this year. Judge closed out the year on a 9-for-20 run, hitting four homers and driving in nine runs while walking seven times. Since beginning to hand out the award in 1973 (in the National League, the AL started in ‘74), Judge is one of just four players to win it 15 times or more: that vaunted list includes Barry Bonds, Miguel Cabrera, and Manny Ramirez.

MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: Finally, in some tangential news, Garrett Cooper announced his retirement following the end of the regular season. Cooper made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2017, playing a small role as he got into 13 games with the Bombers before getting traded to Miami in the Michael King deal. Cooper stayed with the Marlins for six seasons, even earning an All-Star nomination in 2022, before getting dealt to the Padres in 2023. Cooper only got a minor league offer in free agency, going to the Cubs and briefly popping back into the majors with Chicago and Boston that year. Cooper got one more minor league offer to start this year in Atlanta’s system, but was never called up and got released in May. Best of luck in retirement Garrett, may your newfound free time be fruitful.