2020-09-18 19:30:00 EDT
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Fenway Park.
This will be the first installment in a three-game series between these teams this weekend. The Yankees are coming off a set versus the Blue Jays, scoring 33 runs in two wins during the first pair. In the Thursday finale, New York kept the offense going with a 10-7 victory. As for the Red Sox, they just played the Marlins and split their first pair. In the Thursday rubber match, Boston was able to take the series with a 5-3 win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Yankees scored 10 runs in the first seven innings Thursday, but things got interesting in the ninth inning as Toronto mounted an ultimately unsuccessful comeback. Giancarlo Stanton had a nice return to form in that one with four hits, a double, two RBI and a solo homer in a historic offensive night for New York.
In Friday’s matchup, the Yankees will send out Jordan Montgomery. In his eight starts this season, Montgomery is 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34.0 innings pitched. Over his career, Montgomery is 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA and 204 Ks in 220.2 innings of work.
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they were able to out-hit the Marlins 10-7 in the Thursday win. Rafael Devers led the way offensively with a three-run homer, two hits and two runs, while starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi worked 5.0 clean innings with two hits and seven strikeouts.
For the Friday starter job, Boston is going with Martin Perez. In his 10 starts this season, Perez is 3-4 with a 4.33 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 52.0 innings. Over his MLB career, Perez is 56-60 with a 4.70 ERA and 634 Ks in 978.2 innings total.
The Yankees are 83-39 in their last 122 games as a favorite and 72-33 in their last 105 games versus the American League East. The over is 6-1 in New York’s last seven during game one of a series and the under is 4-1 in their last five road games.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 16-35 in their last 51 games as a home underdog and 18-41 in their last 59 versus the American League East. Boston is 1-4 in their last five home games after a road trip of a week or more and 9-24 in their last 33 home games overall.
Pick: I’m willing to go with the Yankees here. I’ve been hesitant to side with New York since their bad slide a week or two back, but it seems like some consistent pop has returned to the team’s step–to put it lightly. If all the Yankees hitters returning from injury can jump right into the swing of things during this series at Fenway, it’ll go even further toward New York’s confidence going into the playoffs. Anything goes in matchups between the Sox and Yanks though, so it’ll certainly be interesting.
