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New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox MLB Betting Preview
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are in a heated battle for the AL East title as they start a weekend series Friday night at Fenway Park (4:10 p.m. PT). The Sox have dominated their rival this year (8-1 overall, 2-1 at home).
Boston (68-41) leads New York (67-42) by one game in the AL East standings, with the Yanks currently leading the wild card by eight games. Both squads desperately want to win the division and there’s a good chance they’ll have their first playoff matchup since 2004.
Both team’s records are pending Thursday night contests. Boston is trying to take three of four at home against Cleveland, while New York is looking for its first 4-game sweep at the White Sox since 1976. Note that Erik Bedard makes his Sox debut Thursday night.
Jon Lester (11-4, 3.17 ERA) opens this series for the Red Sox. He’s made just two starts since the All-Star break as they were careful with him coming off a strained lat. He has a 2.03 ERA in those two starts, including allowing two runs over eight innings at the White last Saturday (10-2 win).
The 27-year-old lefty has a higher ERA at home (3.86) than away (2.75). Boston is 1-3 in his last four home starts, giving little run support at 2.25 per game. That wasn’t expected for MLB’s most prolific offense (5.49 per game).
The ‘under’ is 4-0-1 in Lester’s last five starts (3-0 at home).
Lester has won both starts against the Yankees this year despite a 5.25 ERA. Both were in the Bronx. He has a 3.60 ERA in four home starts against them from 2008-2010, with Boston winning three.
The Yankees are 24-7 against a lefty starter this year, excluding Lester.
The Yankees and GM Brian Cashman were criticized for being quiet at the trade deadline, but they’re 14-5 in their last 19 and getting unexpected contributions from starters Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.
Colon (8-6, 3.30 ERA) will try to continue his Cinderella story Friday night. He didn’t even pitch in the majors last year and almost everyone thought he was done in his late 30s. However, he underwent a controversial stem cell procedure in his elbow and shoulder, and has turned back the clock.
Colon is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his last three starts, winning his last two at home against Baltimore and Oakland. He did have a hamstring injury in June and then some struggles in the first half of July, but he appears to be past that.
This is Colon’s third appearance against Boston this year. He had a quality start (two earned runs over six innings) at home in May, with the Yanks losing 5-4. He made a relief appearance for Phil Hughes at Fenway back in early April. He pitched a solid 4 1/3 innings, surrendering just one earned run.
Colon has an impressive 2.81 road ERA this season, with the ‘under’ 5-1 in his last six away.
New York is 30-20 on the road this year (+8.4 units), 7-2 in the last nine. The ‘under’ is 7-2 in those last nine away.
Boston is 35-20 at home this year (-1.4 units), but 19-7 in the last 26 there.
The ‘under’ is 5-2 in the Red Sox’ last seven games, scoring a pedestrian (for them) 4.57 runs per game.
Boston could be without Clay Buchholz (back injury) for the entire season, putting more pressure on guys like Lester and Josh Beckett. The Yanks are still without Alex Rodriguez (knee), who keeps making off-the field headlines as well.
Weather should be beautiful, clear and in the low 70s. Saturday afternoon’s pitching matchup is a major advantage for the Yanks with CC Sabathia going for his 14th win in 16 games. The less-than-impressive John Lackey pitches for the home team.
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are in a heated battle for the AL East title as they start a weekend series Friday night at Fenway Park (4:10 p.m. PT). The Sox have dominated their rival this year (8-1 overall, 2-1 at home).
Boston (68-41) leads New York (67-42) by one game in the AL East standings, with the Yanks currently leading the wild card by eight games. Both squads desperately want to win the division and there’s a good chance they’ll have their first playoff matchup since 2004.
Both team’s records are pending Thursday night contests. Boston is trying to take three of four at home against Cleveland, while New York is looking for its first 4-game sweep at the White Sox since 1976. Note that Erik Bedard makes his Sox debut Thursday night.
Jon Lester (11-4, 3.17 ERA) opens this series for the Red Sox. He’s made just two starts since the All-Star break as they were careful with him coming off a strained lat. He has a 2.03 ERA in those two starts, including allowing two runs over eight innings at the White last Saturday (10-2 win).
The 27-year-old lefty has a higher ERA at home (3.86) than away (2.75). Boston is 1-3 in his last four home starts, giving little run support at 2.25 per game. That wasn’t expected for MLB’s most prolific offense (5.49 per game).
The ‘under’ is 4-0-1 in Lester’s last five starts (3-0 at home).
Lester has won both starts against the Yankees this year despite a 5.25 ERA. Both were in the Bronx. He has a 3.60 ERA in four home starts against them from 2008-2010, with Boston winning three.
The Yankees are 24-7 against a lefty starter this year, excluding Lester.
The Yankees and GM Brian Cashman were criticized for being quiet at the trade deadline, but they’re 14-5 in their last 19 and getting unexpected contributions from starters Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.
Colon (8-6, 3.30 ERA) will try to continue his Cinderella story Friday night. He didn’t even pitch in the majors last year and almost everyone thought he was done in his late 30s. However, he underwent a controversial stem cell procedure in his elbow and shoulder, and has turned back the clock.
Colon is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his last three starts, winning his last two at home against Baltimore and Oakland. He did have a hamstring injury in June and then some struggles in the first half of July, but he appears to be past that.
This is Colon’s third appearance against Boston this year. He had a quality start (two earned runs over six innings) at home in May, with the Yanks losing 5-4. He made a relief appearance for Phil Hughes at Fenway back in early April. He pitched a solid 4 1/3 innings, surrendering just one earned run.
Colon has an impressive 2.81 road ERA this season, with the ‘under’ 5-1 in his last six away.
New York is 30-20 on the road this year (+8.4 units), 7-2 in the last nine. The ‘under’ is 7-2 in those last nine away.
Boston is 35-20 at home this year (-1.4 units), but 19-7 in the last 26 there.
The ‘under’ is 5-2 in the Red Sox’ last seven games, scoring a pedestrian (for them) 4.57 runs per game.
Boston could be without Clay Buchholz (back injury) for the entire season, putting more pressure on guys like Lester and Josh Beckett. The Yanks are still without Alex Rodriguez (knee), who keeps making off-the field headlines as well.
Weather should be beautiful, clear and in the low 70s. Saturday afternoon’s pitching matchup is a major advantage for the Yanks with CC Sabathia going for his 14th win in 16 games. The less-than-impressive John Lackey pitches for the home team.
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