Yankees (62-58) vs Red Sox (72-51)
New York was showing some signs of life before getting hammered by the Angels in the closing game of their 4 game set on Thursday. Prior to that they had won 4 in a row and 5 of 6 and things are slowly getting to a normal stage with 3B Alex Rodriguez in the lineup – if there is a normal.
Friday August 16
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
7:10PM
Probable Starters:
NYY: Andy Pettite (L)
BOS: Felix Doubront (L)
Moneyline: Boston -176, New York +166
O/U: 9
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New York
I am not sure how much he is providing them overall but 2B Robinson Cano claims he is getting better pitches to hit since he came back. If that is true than the overall effect may be positive after all. This is a big series this weekend.
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If it is a big series between Boston and New York then you know Andy Pettite will be involved. Throughout his career Pettite has made more than season’s worth of starts against Boston and holds a 19-11 career record.
This season his home road splits are not encouraging and he has lost his last 4 starts on the road.
In fairness he received only 6 runs of support over that time as the Yankees have struggled a lot more offensively this season than we are used to seeing. Perhaps visiting Boston will juice them up.
Boston
Boston is heading home after dropping a tight series against Toronto. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
They lost the last two games by a run each in a series in which only 16 total runs were scored – that is not Red Sox baseball. Boston is 4-6 in their last 10 but has coughed up zero ground as Tampa and Baltimore have similarly struggled.
If they can sweep the Yankees not only will they have the satisfaction of doing so but they will probably eliminate them from the race.
This is a very good hitting club and they need to get their bats going again.
In a couple of seasons it wouldn’t surprise me if Felix Doubront is one of the best lefties in the American League. The stuff has always been there and this year he has been more effective by pitching to contact and keeping the ball in the park – he has not given up a homer in his last 6 starts.
Of all the teams in the AL East, he has pitched the best against New York with a 2.36 ERA and a 3-1 record so it appears he is not intimidated by the Yankee mystique.
This is a huge series for the Yankees but just as important for Boston. The Red Sox have the better arm on the mound and the better lineup to back it up. Boston has taken 6 of 10 vs. New York this season and will start this series off by adding to that victory total.
There is better value on the total than the side in this one.
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Boston 6 – New York 5
