Yankees Take On Boston

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox going head-to-head in a game does not mean as much as it used to. The Red Sox sit in last place in the AL East, 12.5 games behind the first place Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees are in third place, five games behind the Orioles, which is manageable, but neither team is looking like World Series contenders at the moment.

However, this is still the most storied rivalry in all the MLB and every time they collide it has a big-game feel.

The Red Sox were pretty active before the trade deadline, trading off many of their veteran pitchers. Clay Buchholz is now the most veteran pitcher on the staff. Buchholz will be the guy on the mound for the Red Sox in this game. Meanwhile, the Yankees will be sending David Phelps to the mound.

Buchholz struggled after the break and spent the month of May on the bench with an injury. Over his last three outings he posted a 7.94 ERA. He’s given up at least four runs in each of them also, while walking eight and striking out eight.

Phelps has been performing better than Buchholz has. In July he allowed two earned runs in his last five starts. However, in his last outing he allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings against the Los Angeles Rangers. He has a 3.89 ERA. Phelps is also very familiar with the Yankees. Phelps is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against Boston.

The Red Sox are the slight favorites to win with a moneyline set at -104. The Yankees moneyline is set at -106.