Yankees vs Red Sox: Odds, Predictions and More

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will begin a three game series on Friday, July 10. It will be the third time these two bitter rivals will play this season, it will provide a chance for the Yankees to extend their lead in the AL East, or a chance for the Red Sox to reduce their five game deficit against the Yankees. Any time the Yankees vs Red Sox play, you can throw out the season records, because they don’t seem to matter to these teams.

In the first two New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox series, the Yankees hold a 2-4 lead, due to the fact that they swept the Red Sox in the last three game series that they played. During the time, the Red Sox were struggling, but they are playing well right now, winning four of their last five games.

In Friday’s New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox game, the Yankees will start Michael Pineda, while the Red Sox will send Clay Buchholz to the mound.

Pineda is 8-5 for the season, with a 3.79 ERA, he was unable to get the decision in his last start, despite not giving up an earned run during the game, and he will be hoping for some offensive support this time around. Pineda hasn’t faced the Red Sox this season, but in his last start at Fenway Park, he allowed only one earned run, and led his team to a 9-5 victory.

Buchholz is currently 7-6 with a 3.27 ERA, but he is pitching very well for the Red Sox right now, which should give the team some confidence going into the game. He has won his last four starts, and five of his last seven, with two no decisions in between. During his current four game streak, he has allowed only three earned runs, and has been very tough to score against.

As previously mentioned, the Red Sox are playing well right now, and they have won 10 of their last 15 games, which has allowed them to get within distance of the division leading Yankees. Their pitching is still not very good, with the exception of Buchholz, who is in a zone right now. Their offense has improved over the last few weeks, which has helped fuel their recent run. 

Prior to the start of the season, Boston’s offseason additions made them a favorite to win the division, and contend for the World Series, but their slow start has them taking things one step at a time, and their top priority right now is getting back to .500, and trying to make the playoffs.

The New York Yankees are back on top of the AL East, but it is unclear how long it will last, because of the way they have been playing lately. They have lost five of their last eight games, and are fortunate that the teams behind them haven’t played well lately, or else they would have lost their division lead. Like the Red Sox, their pitching has been shaky all year, but they have been fortunate to have one of the best offenses in baseball, which has bailed them out of a few games. Alex Rodriguez, who most people didn’t expect to make much of a difference, is one of the reasons the Yankees are on top of the AL East, because he is batting .284, with 16 homers this season.

The Yankees weren’t expected to do much this season, so it is a surprise that they lead the division halfway through the season. The biggest question they face now, is if they will be able to hold on to the lead, or falter down the stretch.

My Pick: The last NY Yankees vs Boston Red Sox game was an 8-5 win for the Yankees, who played the series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox won’t want to lose four straight home games to the Yankees, and Clay Buchholz is pitching very well right now, so I’m picking the Red Sox to win.