Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees.
Fenway Stadium (Boston).
The latest classic rivalry series between the Red Sox and Yankees kicks off at Fenway Park in Boston. This time, the already terrifying heat of the derby will be heightened by a rivalry between the teams for a playoff spot. Who will come out on top in the first game of a three-game battle? We have several betting options.
Boston could decide a lot of things
Ahead of their final series of the season, the Red Sox are two wins ahead of their rival from New York. That means that a successful series will make life a lot easier for Boston in the race for the wild-card. All the more so, with the same two wins separating the Sox from their other rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. There are three teams with two slots, and Boston has an excellent opportunity to leave the Yankees and Toronto to deal with each other for the remaining ticket.
Alex Cora’s team comes into the upcoming game with a streak of 7 straight wins. First, the Sox closed out the road trip to Seattle with two wins. Then, they got five wins at home, three against Baltimore, and twice against the New York Mets.
Nathan Eovaldi - 10 wins, eight losses, 3.58 ERA - will pitch in the opening game of the home series against the Yankees. Against the Yankees this season, Eovaldi has played four times and has never allowed more than two runs per game.
Yankees are on the brink of disaster
It would seem that what more the Yankees need to have a decent season. However, after all the acquisitions that have made the team’s batting lineup look like a killing machine, the New York Yankees might not even make the playoffs. Winning the division is just a dream. And in the battle for the wild-card, Aaron Boone’s team is so far behind Boston and on par with Toronto. There’s a chance for the postseason, but I can’t call the Yankees the favourite in the race.
New York’s winning streak before the trip to Fenway Park should not be misleading. Three straight wins over a completely broke-down Texas and a win over an unmotivated Cleveland, even after two losses to them, is not much of an achievement.
Gerrit Cole is the starting pitcher for the series opener against Boston, 15-8, with a 3.03 ERA. Unremarkable but by no means the worst numbers for the legendary pitcher. Against the Red Sox, Cole has played three games this season, winning one and losing two.
Expert Betting Tips
The Yankees have nowhere at all to fall back on. However, it will be challenging for Aaron Boone’s team to outplay Boston in the first game of the final face-off series of the season, even with Gerrit Cole. Boston has a pitcher who may be less well known but has been doing a great job specifically against the Yankees this season.
We predict that Eovaldi will again miss little, and the Red Sox will win in a low-scoring game.
Betting options:
- Total Under 9 for 1.93;
- W2 for 1.83;
- Individual Total 1 Under 4.5 for 1.61.