The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew one of baseball's fiercest rivalries on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Yankee Stadium, with first pitch set for 1:05 PM ET. Carlos Rodón gets the ball for New York against Boston left-hander Jake Bennett. This is a regular season AL East matchup, and in a division where every game carries weight, the Yankees need to protect home turf against a divisional opponent. Coverage is available on YES Network and MLB Network, with radio on WFAN 660/101.9 FM.

Starting Pitchers: Carlos Rodón vs. Jake Bennett

Rodón draws the Saturday afternoon start for the Yankees. The left-hander has been a cornerstone of New York's rotation and gives the Bombers a legitimate frontline arm to build around in a divisional matchup. Rodón's ability to work deep into games and generate swing-and-miss stuff makes him a sound choice for a rivalry contest at The Stadium.

Opposing him is Jake Bennett, a younger arm in Boston's rotation. Bennett represents the kind of developing starter the Red Sox have leaned on, and the Yankees lineup will be looking to take advantage of any early command issues and drive up his pitch count.

Yankees Starting Lineup

• 1. Paul Goldschmidt — 1B
• 2. Ben Rice — DH
• 3. Amed Rosario — 2B
• 4. Heliot Ramos — RF
• 5. Cody Bellinger — LF
• 6. George Lombard Jr. — SS
• 7. José Caballero — 3B
• 8. Spencer Jones — CF
• 9. Ali Sánchez — C

Red Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Jahmai Jones — DH
• 2. Ceddanne Rafaela — CF
• 3. Wilyer Abreu — RF
• 4. Willson Contreras — 1B
• 5. Caleb Durbin — 3B
• 6. Adley Rutschman — C
• 7. Andruw Monasterio — SS
• 8. Nick Sogard — 2B
• 9. Eli White — LF

Keys to Watch in This Yankees-Red Sox Matchup

Rodón's Command in a Day Game

Day games at Yankee Stadium can play differently, and Rodón's effectiveness will hinge on establishing his fastball early. If he can get ahead in counts and keep Boston's lineup off-balance, the Yankees should be in a strong position deep into the game.

Yankees Lineup vs. a Left-Handed Starter

Bennett is a left-hander, which puts the Yankees' lineup construction under a microscope. Goldschmidt leads off, and the middle of the order — Ramos, Bellinger, and Rosario — will need to make Bennett work. Getting to Boston's bullpen early would be a significant advantage for New York.

Adley Rutschman Batting Sixth

Rutschman is a dangerous hitter batting sixth for Boston. That's a lineup spot where the Yankees cannot afford to let him beat them with runners on base. Rodón will need a plan for the Red Sox catcher every time he steps in.

Spencer Jones in Center

Jones gets the start in center field and draws a key spot in a lineup that is working with some depth pieces. His at-bats against a lefty in the bottom third of the order could matter in a close game — the Yankees need production across the lineup, not just from the top four.

Prediction

Rodón at home against a younger starter in a divisional game is a favorable setup for the Yankees. Yankee Stadium's crowd on a Saturday afternoon in June tends to bring energy, and the home side has the pitching edge on paper. Expect the Yankees to take this one, with Rodón going six-plus innings and the offense doing enough damage early against Bennett to build a lead that holds. Yankees win, 5-2.