New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Preview
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
When: Friday, August 18, 2017, 7:10 PM ET
Line: New York Yankees (+124) at Boston Red Sox (-134); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: YES, NESN, MLB Network
Betting on the New York Yankees (65-55)
The New York Yankees extended their win streak to four games and completed their two-game Subway Series sweep on Thursday, handing their Big Apple rivals the New York Mets a 7-5 defeat.
Considering that the Yankees are four games behind the Red Sox in the AL East standings and that their upcoming clash against their bitter rivals will be the final series in Fenway Park this season, there’s basically no room for error for them this Friday.
It’s fortunate for New York, then, that Gary Sanchez has been integral to the team’s success during its four-game run. Sanchez drove in a career-high five runs in Thursday’s win, largely powered by a three-run blast out of Citi Field to give him four home runs over the last six games. The Dominican catcher also has four home runs in 43 at-bats against Boston this season.
The Yanks also have a viable starter lined up for the series opener in Jordan Montgomery (7-6, 3.94 ERA). The 24-year-old southpaw will be making his second-straight start against the Red Sox and appears to not be intimidated whatsoever, limiting them to just one run and two hits in 5.1 innings of work this past Sunday.
On the other hand, a lot is riding on young Montgomery to replicate his performance over the weekend, as closer Aroldis Chapman (hamstring) is still expected to be held out of action for Friday’s contest.
Betting on the Boston Red Sox (69-51)
Although the Yankees have greater momentum heading into Friday’s showdown, the Boston Red Sox haven’t shown signs of slowing down themselves.
The Red Sox have gone an astounding 12-2 over the last 14 games – including taking two of three against the Yankees in the Bronx – averaging a little over six runs per game during that stretch.
Boston’s offense is seemingly in good shape, and the team will also have a solid starter to counter New York’s Montgomery in Drew Pomeranz (12-4, 3.39 ERA). The lefty out of Ole Miss has quietly been a gem for the team, having allowed no more than three runs in 10 of his last 11 starts. Among those 10 starts is Pomeranz’s win over the Yanks on August 12.
Without having to worry about Chapman, the X-factor for the Sox has got to be their own closer, Craig Kimbrel. In four appearances this season, Kimbrel has contained the Yanks to a mere .105 team batting average to go with a superb 1.80 ERA.
Writer’s Prediction
The Red Sox (-134) draw first blood in a close one, 7-5.
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