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The Yankees will host the Mets on Sept. 11 next year on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

The announcement was made Tuesday, when the MLB schedule was released.

The two New York teams met in Queens at Citi Field on Sept. 11 in 2021 for the 20th anniversary.

Aaron Boone was there for that one and said he expected a similar response for next year’s game.

“I would imagine it will be quite emotional,’’ Boone said before the Yankees beat Washington 5-1 on Tuesday. “A lot of players now don’t have vivid memories [of the events]. Some do as kids, young ones, at that.”

Boone recalled meeting with then-Mets manager Luis Rojas on the field prior to the 2021 game.

“There was a palpable energy in the stadium, especially that time of year,’’ Boone said.

The pregame feelings were different for that game, according to Boone, with the knowledge that many people in the ballpark were impacted by the impacts.

“When you go through the pregame introductions, you hope as a ballplayer, or a team, you go out and represent, on such a meaningful day, in a positive way,’’ Boone said.


  MLB will open the 2026 season with the Yankees. Robert Sabo for NY Post MLB will open the 2026 season with the Yankees. Robert Sabo for NY Post

  The Yankees will see Rafael Devers for the first time as a Giant to start the 2026 season. AP The Yankees will see Rafael Devers for the first time as a Giant to start the 2026 season. AP

The Yankees will also play in the first game in 2026, when they visit the Giants in San Francisco on March 25 to open the regular season.

The remaining Opening Day games will be played on March 26, which the league noted will be the earliest traditional Opening Day in history.

The Yankees will open their home schedule against the Marlins on April 3.


  The Yankees will face Juan Soto and the Mets on Sept. 11. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Yankees will face Juan Soto and the Mets on Sept. 11. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

  The Yankees’ 2026 schedule. @Yankees/X The Yankees’ 2026 schedule. @Yankees/X

Fernando Cruz finally made it back to the Yankees bullpen Tuesday after being sidelined since June 28 with a left oblique strain.

He wasn’t at his best, giving up a pair of hits and hitting a batter, but Cruz struck out two in the sixth inning before being pulled.

“He faced some adversity,’’ Boone said. “But he had some good swing-and-miss.”

Boone said over the weekend the right-hander was physically ready to return from the 15-day injured list on Sunday, but the Yankees didn’t want to potentially force him into a multi-inning outing in his first appearance, so they gave him extra days.


  Fernando Cruz reacts after being taken out in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Nationals on Aug. 26, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Fernando Cruz reacts after being taken out in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Nationals on Aug. 26, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

Yerry De los Santos, who threw 47 pitches over 2 ²/₃ innings in Monday’s win over Washington, was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following his outing.

Cruz hadn’t pitched for the Yankees since June 27, but had become one of their most trusted arms out of the bullpen.

Ryan Yarbrough also could serve as bullpen help when he returns from a right oblique strain and the right-hander threw 63 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

He should be nearing a return.

Ryan McMahon wasn’t in Tuesday’s starting lineup with a lefty on the mound after he broke a 16 at-bat hitless streak in Monday’s win.

He then struck out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth before walking in the eighth.

“He’s scuffling a little bit,’’ Boone said of the third baseman acquired from the Rockies before the trade deadline. “He’s having competitive at-bats, but he’s fouling some pitches off that he needs to make hay on. The at-bat quality has been there. Now he has to finish them off with some authority.”

Amed Rosario, picked up from the Nationals at the deadline, filled in for McMahon in just his third start with the Yankees.

Rosario went 0-for-2 before being replaced by McMahon.

José Caballero stole a base without a throw, as he got a tremendous jump off ex-Yankee Clayton Beeter in the seventh. … Camilo Doval threw a scoreless inning in one of his best performances since arriving in a trade from San Francisco.

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