The Boston Red Sox (31-32) take one of the highest-scoring lineups in the American League on the road to face the New York Yankees (37-27) at Yankee Stadium on Friday to open a three-game series.
The Red Sox are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They won only one out of three in their last series against the Guardians, dropping the finale 10-3 on Thursday at Progressive Field. Triston Casas was 2 for 4 with a solo home run.
The Yankees are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They lost two of three against the White Sox in their last series, ending the series by splitting both games of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
They followed up a 6-5 loss in the opener with a 3-0 win in the finale. Billy McKinney went 1 for 2 with a solo home run in the second leg. The teams are meeting for the first time this season.
The Yankees dominated the 2022 season series between the bitter rivals (13-6), including a sweep in their most recent four-game set at Yankee Stadium in September.
ON THE MOUND
Garrett Whitlock (2-2, 5.61 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Boston. The righty allowed four runs over 4.2 innings in his last start, an 8-5 road win over the Rays on Saturday. He gave up six hits while striking out five and walking two in the no-decision.
Over six appearances (zero starts) against the Yankees in 2022, Whitlock was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA over 9.1 innings. He had 15 strikeouts and one walk. For New York, RHP Gerrit Cole (7-0, 2.82 ERA) gets the start.
Cole made five appearances against the Red Sox in 2022, all starts, striking out 40 and walking eight over 29 innings (2-0, 5.59). In his last start on Saturday, Cole got the win on the road against the Dodgers.
He threw six innings and gave up one run on four hits, striking out five and walking two in the 6-3 triumph. The RHP is tied for fourth in the AL in wins and fifth in strikeouts (84).
AT THE PLATE
The Boston offense is averaging 5.0 runs per game for the season, third best in the AL, with a slash line of .260/.332/.425. Masataka Yoshida leads the team in OPS at .878. The left fielder is slashing .315/.387/.491 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and 34 runs over 55 games.
Over the last five games, however, Boston has averaged only 2.6 runs a game while slashing worse across the board (.212/.305/.327). Against righties like Cole this season, the Sox have a .754 OPS. Yoshida also is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .919 OPS in 157 at-bats.
New York is slashing .234/.303/.422 for the season and averaging 4.6 runs per game. Aaron Judge leads the team with a 1.078 OPS. The right fielder has 19 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 42 runs scored with a slash line of .291/.404/.674.
The Yanks have a .727 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.186 OPS over 144 at-bats, Judge also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 14-16 away from home in 2023, scoring 4.2 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. New York has gone 20-15 at their home park this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game while surrendering 4.0. In the last 10 games between the teams at Yankee Stadium, New York is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 6.3-3.2.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 14 games behind the division-leading Rays. The Yankees are third in the AL East, eight games behind the Rays.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
NY Yankees (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
