Ladies and gentlemen… actually, forget the “ladies and gentlemen.” We don’t need an introduction for this one.

The Yankees and Red Sox are going back to war!

The postseason is opening with the greatest rivalry in baseball, and apparently Major League Baseball decided, “You know what? Let’s give everybody heartburn on Day 1.”

The New York Yankees will host the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium starting Tuesday in a best-of-three Wild Card series, with the winner moving on to face Tampa Bay in the American League Division Series.

And if you’re a Yankees fan, congratulations.

You get October baseball.

You also get three potential games of high blood pressure, screaming at your television, blaming the manager, blaming the umpire, blaming the hot dog vendor and questioning every decision made since 1996.

This is Yankees-Red Sox.

Normal behavior is officially suspended.

THE RIVALRY IS BACK!

These two teams have met six times previously in the postseason, and somehow they’re perfectly tied at 3-3.

The Yankees took the 1999 and 2003 ALCS and last year’s Wild Card Series.

Boston, of course, has the unforgettable 2004 ALCS comeback from a 3-0 deficit, plus postseason wins over New York in 2018 and 2021.

So basically, every Yankees fan reading this just got a headache.

You’re welcome.

Aaron Boone knows exactly what this series means.

Boone said the matchup has probably been “in the works” for about a month and acknowledged what everybody already knows:

This isn’t just another playoff series.

This is Yankees-Red Sox.

This is baseball’s version of Thanksgiving dinner where everybody shows up pretending they’re getting along before somebody brings up politics and the entire table explodes.

Boone believes the Yankees have what it takes to move on if they play their game and pitch the way they’re capable of pitching.

And that’s the key.

Because in October, you can have the greatest lineup on Earth.

If your pitching suddenly decides to turn into a community college science experiment, you’re going home.

BOSTON HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NUTS

Here’s where this Red Sox team gets interesting.

Boston started the season 10-17.

They were struggling.

Then they fired Alex Cora and five coaches on April 25.

Chad Tracy took over on an interim basis after being promoted from Triple-A Worcester.

And somehow…

THE RED SOX CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD.

Boston was sitting at 32-46 and dead last in the AL East on June 24.

Then came a four-game sweep of the Yankees at Fenway Park.

And suddenly Boston went:

“Oh, you thought we were dead?”

The Red Sox ripped off a 32-5 stretch, including a 15-game winning streak — their first since 1946.

1946!

At this point, somebody in Boston probably found a dusty baseball glove in their grandfather’s attic and said, “Let’s see if this still works.”

Apparently it did.

Boston rallied from a three-run deficit against the Cubs in a doubleheader opener to clinch the second Wild Card.

And now they’re coming into Yankee Stadium.

BUT THERE’S A PROBLEM…

Willson Contreras is uncertain for the series after getting hit on the right hand by a pitch September 17.

That’s a major question for Boston because Contreras has been one of their biggest offensive weapons, leading the Red Sox with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs.

And if you’re Boston, you don’t want to walk into Yankee Stadium without one of your biggest bats.

That’s like going into a boxing match and telling your best puncher:

“Yeah, we’re probably not going to need you.”

Good luck with that.

AND THEN THERE’S GARRETT CROCHET…

Last year, Boston won the opening game behind Garrett Crochet, who threw 117 pitches and struck out 11 Yankees.

Then the Yankees basically said:

“Okay. That’s cute.”

New York won Game 3, 4-0, behind Massachusetts native Cam Schlittler, who struck out 12 in eight innings.

And now?

We’re doing it again.

Except this time the Yankees enter the postseason having won the regular-season series against Boston 7-6.

Which means absolutely nothing once Tuesday night arrives.

Seriously.

You could have swept somebody 13-0 during the regular season.

October doesn’t care.

October looks at your regular-season record and says:

“That’s adorable. Now pitch.”

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OCTOBER BASEBALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE!

Roman Anthony summed it up perfectly.

He basically said both teams are great, they always play good baseball against each other and that there’s nowhere he’d rather be as a competitor.

And he’s right.

This is why we watch baseball.

The history.

The hatred.

The drama.

The fans screaming.

The players pretending they aren’t nervous.

The managers staring into the dugout like they’re trying to solve a murder.

And somewhere in the eighth inning, Yankees fans will be screaming:

“BOONE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

While Red Sox fans will be screaming:

“WHY IS HE STILL IN THE GAME?!”

And baseball fans everywhere will be sitting back with popcorn thinking:

“This is fantastic.”

The Yankees and Red Sox are tied 3-3 all-time in postseason meetings.

The Yankees won the regular-season series 7-6.

Boston has already proven it can go from 32-46 and last place to the postseason.

New York has home-field advantage.

And now?

None of it matters.

Because starting Tuesday, it’s not about April.

It’s not about June.

It’s not about July.

It’s not even about September.

It’s Yankees-Red Sox.

WIN THREE GAMES OR GO HOME.

And somewhere in New York and Boston, millions of people are already yelling at televisions that aren’t even turned on yet.

Welcome to October, folks.

THE BRONX IS ABOUT TO GET LOUD.