MLB Predictions: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

The Boston Red Sox (5-6) and New York Yankees (5-6) will continue an American League East series Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

New York Yankees SP Hiroki Kuroda has been tremendous in daytime starts since arriving in the Bronx

Boston has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, as it looks to build off a 4-2 victory over New York as -127 road favorites Friday, while going UNDER the betting total for the fifth time in six affairs. The Red Sox are 5-0 this season when leading after five innings, as they look to continue their strong play in this rivalry dating back to the start of the 2013 campaign. Boston is 34-22 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 28-26 in that situation.

Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey (2-0, 1.38 ERA) has won his first two outings of the season, including a 5-1 home victory over the Texas Rangers last time out, as he allowed one run (zero earned) and five hits over seven innings of work. The right-hander went 4-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 16 road outings a season ago—surrendering 18 home runs in 98.1 combined frames. In four outings versus the Bronx Bombers in 2013, Lackey compiled a 2-1 record and 5.76 ERA.

New York will play 18 of its first 31 games at this venue, while it opens up the season by playing on 13 consecutive days. The Yankees are hoping that outfielder Alfonso Soriano can continue to produce at the plate, as he leads the league in home runs since rejoining the franchise on July 26 of last year. Leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury is important to watch in this matchup, as he’s gone 2 for 7 with a RBI in two games versus his former team. New York is 22-21 at home with a money line of -100 to -125, with the UNDER going 22-19 in that situation.

Yankees starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (1-1, 2.92 ERA) snapped a career-long nine-game winless streak last time out, as he looks to continue his daytime success as a member of the franchise. The right-hander is 11-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 19 outings under the sun since joining the Bronx Bombers—the fourth-lowest daytime ERA in the league over that span.