No franchise has played in baseball’s wild card round more often than the New York Yankees. They have appeared seven times since 2015 — four in the single-game era and three in the best-of-three era — and have won five of them.
Every Yankees wild card appearance
| Year | Format | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Wild Card Game | Houston Astros | Yankee Stadium | Lost 0–3 |
| 2017 | Wild Card Game | Minnesota Twins | Yankee Stadium | Won 8–4 |
| 2018 | Wild Card Game | Oakland Athletics | Yankee Stadium | Won 7–2 |
| 2020 | Wild Card Series | Cleveland Indians | Progressive Field | Won 2–0 |
| 2021 | Wild Card Game | Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park | Lost 2–6 |
| 2025 | Wild Card Series | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium | Won 2–1 |
| 2026 | Wild Card Series | Boston Red Sox | Yankee Stadium | Won 2–0 |
Both defeats came in single games, one at home against Houston in 2015 and one at Fenway Park in 2021. Every one of their best-of-three series has been a win.
The 2026 series
New York finished 93–68 and was the American League’s No. 4 seed — the winningest club that did not win a division — so it hosted the No. 5 seed Boston Red Sox. The Yankees clinched a postseason berth on September 14 and were locked into the fourth seed once Tampa Bay won the AL East.
| Date | Game | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29, 8 p.m. ET | Game 1 | Yankees 9, Red Sox 0 |
| Wed, Sep 30, 8 p.m. ET | Game 2 | Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 |
Game 1 was the highest-scoring shutout in the history of the wild card round, built on a five-run eighth inning that included a grand slam. Game 2 turned on a six-run sixth. The 18–2 aggregate is the largest run differential ever recorded across a two-game postseason span. New York advanced to the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Context
The Yankees’ seven appearances are a round record, and their five round wins are also the most by any club. Yankee Stadium has hosted the round five times. Their opponent has been Boston in three of the last four appearances, a rivalry covered on the Red Sox-Yankees wild card page.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Wild Card Series” and “2026 American League Wild Card Series”; MLB.com, “How to watch the 2026 Wild Card Series on NBC and Peacock”.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many times have the Yankees played in the wild card round?
Seven times through 2026, more than any other MLB franchise, with a record of five wins and two losses.
What happened in the Yankees' 2026 wild card series?
They swept the Boston Red Sox 9–0 and 9–2 at Yankee Stadium to reach the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Have the Yankees ever lost a wild card game at home?
Yes, the 2015 AL Wild Card Game, which Houston won 3–0 at Yankee Stadium.