The Boston Red Sox (34-35) host the New York Yankees (39-30) at Fenway Park on Friday to open a three-game series. The Yankees split their last series against the Mets, dropping the finale 4-3 on Wednesday at Citi Field. Jose Trevino was 1 for 3 with a double and one run.
The Red Sox are amid a six-game homestand. They lost two of three against the Rockies in their last series, taking the finale 6-3 on Wednesday at Fenway Park. Alex Verdugo’s on-base streak hit 10 as he went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Rob Refsnyder added a triple, two runs, and two RBIs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Red Sox have won two of three in the season series between the bitter rivals, including a 3-2 victory in 10 innings in their most recent meeting on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Reliever Kenley Jansen threw one scoreless inning to get the win, and Chris Martin earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Domingo German (4-3, 3.49 ERA) is slated to take the mound for New York. The right-hander is matched up against the Red Sox for the second consecutive start. On Saturday, he allowed one run over six innings, a 3-1 road win.
He was credited with the win, yielding six hits while striking out five and walking two. RHP Tanner Houck (3-6, 5.23 ERA) will toe the rubber for Boston.
His only prior start against the Yankees this season was his last time out when Houck gave up two runs over six innings in a 3-1 road defeat on Saturday. He gave up three hits and walked one while striking out six in the loss.
AT THE PLATE
The New York offense is averaging 4.6 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .232/.300/.416. Anthony Rizzo leads the team in OPS at .779. The first baseman is slashing .266/.343/.436 with 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 33 runs over 63 games.
Over the last five games, though, New York has averaged only 3.4 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.208/.244/.345). Against right-handed pitchers like Houck this season, the Yanks have a .714 OPS. Aaron Judge is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a 1.186 OPS in 144 at-bats.
Boston is slashing .259/.331/.424 for the season and averaging 4.9 runs per game. Masataka Yoshida leads the team with a .835 OPS. The left fielder has seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and 34 runs scored with a slash line of .297/.374/.461.
Boston is averaging only 3.8 runs per game in the last five with their slash line slipping across the board (.246/.314/.392). The Sox have a .753 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .875 OPS over 177 at-bats, Verdugo has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
New York is 18-13 on the road in 2023, scoring 4.7 runs per game while allowing 4.0 runs. Boston has gone 18-18 at home this season, averaging 5.7 runs per game while surrendering 5.3. In the last 10 meetings at Fenway Park, each club has won five, though Boston has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.0-4.8.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Yankees are third in the AL East, nine games behind the division-leading Rays. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 14 games behind the Rays.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Boston Red Sox (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
