A traditional rivalry that still has heat. A winner-take-all, give-your-fans-big-bragging-rights date in a grand, old ballpark. Two teams that have endured during challenging seasons. Big stars and aces.

This edition of Yankees-Red Sox could be something special, eh? Even if it is only one game, the AL Wild Card clash at Fenway Park Tuesday night, there’s sure to be plenty of theater. And history.

Speaking of which, we’ve seen this before, right? This will be the fifth time the teams are meeting in a do-or-die game. Let your mind drift back to 1949, 1978, 2003, and 2004 and imagine the possibilities.

That’s why this ain’t no rerun. We have no idea what marvels may await. Call it a remix instead, one that could give us a new rivalry hero/demon along the lines of Bucky F’in Dent, Aaron Boone (who’s involved in a different role than when he hit that homer in 2003) or David Ortiz.

Win and advance to an AL Division Series with the Tampa Bay Rays. Lose and hit the golf course. In the Yankees’ case, blowing this game against Boston could turn their offseason into a referendum on their plan and their players.

Tons at stake.

Here’s a look at who and what might tilt the game either way, plus a prediction at the end.

Biggest players, biggest game

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both have 10 homers since Sept. 1. Judge clinched the Yanks’ postseason trip with a walk-off single on Sunday and has been their best player all year. Stanton went wild during the Yankees’ key sweep at Fenway from Sept. 24-26, homering in each game and driving in 10 runs while batting .583. He has a 1.103 OPS at Fenway this year. If he continues to mash against Boston pitching, what hope do the Red Sox have? Should Alex Cora even pitch to Stanton on Tuesday? Or Judge? It’s not like the Yankee offense (19th in MLB in runs, 13th in OPS) has been overwhelmingly impressive otherwise.

Which version of the ace shows up? (This goes for both teams!)

Gerrit Cole is a great pitcher, as evidenced by his AL-bests in wins (16) and K/BB ratio (5.93) and his 3.23 ERA and 243 strikeouts in 181.1 innings. But he’s coping with a hamstring injury, hasn’t been great against Boston this year (4.91 ERA), and has not pitched well in his last three starts overall (7.64 ERA, .988 opponent OPS). But take heart, Yankee fans -- his one solid start in that stretch was a six-inning, three-run outing at Fenway (all three runs came on a Rafael Devers home run in the sixth inning, Cole's last of the night).

The Yankees look wise for not using Cole on short rest Sunday to try to avoid a potential play-in game. They didn’t need him and now he’s going on five days’ rest against Boston, which could help his hamstring.

Meanwhile, Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi had been excellent against the Yankees all season -- 2.01 ERA in his first five starts -- but imploded during the sweep at Fenway. The Yanks pounced early and knocked him out in the third inning, hanging up seven runs. Stanton homered. Judge (.400) hits Eovaldi well; so does Anthony Rizzo (5-for-9, three doubles).

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