Yankees host Red Sox in Important AL East Showdown
Major League Baseball’s Sunday calendar features one of baseball’s biggest rivalries when the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees. The current line on top sportsbooks has Boston favored at -175, New York at +155 and the over/under run total on 8.
Entering this game, Boston on the season is 66-50 overall and 30-30 on the road. The Red Sox are 9-1 in their last 10 games played. New York on the season is 61-54 overall and 33-21 at home. The Yankees are 4-6 in their last 10 games played.
New York won the opening game of this three-game set on Friday, but Boston bounced back with vengeance on Saturday to extend their lead in the American League East to 4 ½ games.
On Friday, Boston’s bullpen failed to hold a lead and the Yankees rallied to win 5-4. However, on Saturday the Red Sox bats came alive and took control resulting in a 10-5 Boston win.
Boston Rookie outfielder Andrew Benintendi hit two three-run homers on Saturday and has 12 hits in 23 at bats over his past six games.
The Yankees lead the race for the AL wildcard and look to avoid their four straight series in which they broke even or lost, while at the same time remain close to Boston in the race for the AL East title.
Boston will send Chris Sale to the mound on Sunday. The Red Sox lefthander is 14-4 with an ERA of 2.57. New York will counter with Jordan Montgomery. The Yankee lefthander is 7-6 with an ERA of 4.05.
Sale pitched another dominant game in his last outing that included 13 strikeouts and just 2 hits over eight shutout innings. The favorite to win the Cy Young in the AL has not allowed any earned runs in four of five starts since returning from the All-Star game.
Sale shut out the Yankees for 7 2/3 innings striking out 13 and allowing three hits on July 15.
Montgomery was demoted to the minors for a short stint but has returned to fill in for the injured CC Sabathia. In his last outing in the majors on August 5, the Yankees southpaw held Cleveland to three hits and one run over five innings.
Boston is 4-1 in its last 5 games on the road.
New York 7-3 in its last 10 games that follow a loss.
Prediction: Sale is pitching phenomenal and will shut down the Yankees. Lean toward the Red Sox in this one.
