MLB Predictions: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

The Boston Red Sox (36-43) and New York Yankees (40-37) will open up an American League East series Friday night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET on the MLB Network

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

New York Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira has been steady at the plate in recent weeks

Boston has dropped five of seven games on its current road trip, but it did manage to come away with a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners as +125 underdogs Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total for a fourth consecutive affair. The Red Sox received a much-needed off day, considering it ended a stretch of playing 36 games in 37 days last time out—compiling a 16-20 record in that period of time. Boston is 6-1 on the road with a total of 9 to 9.5, with the UNDER going 5-2 in that situation.

Red Sox starting pitcher Brandon Workman (1-0, 2.88 ERA) didn’t earn a decision in a 3-2 home loss to the Cleveland Indians on June 15, as he allowed two runs and five hits over six innings of work. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA in four road appearances (three starts), with opposing hitters batting .177 against him. Workman help the Yankees to a .167 mark over 3.1 innings in four relief appearances in 2013.

New York ended a four-game losing streak by picking up a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays as +101 road underdogs Wednesday, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in four affairs. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is starting to wake up offensively—batting .250 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 14 games played. Outfielder Carlos Beltran is also important to watch, considering he leads the club with three round trippers in the season series. New York is 5-2 at home with a money line of -100 to -125 during the 2014 campaign.

Yankees starting pitcher Vidal Nuno (1-4, 5.88 ERA) will try to snap a personal four-game losing streak, which includes a 6-1 setback at home to the Baltimore Orioles last Saturday. The left-hander is 0-3 with a 7.09 ERA in eight home games (seven starts)—serving up 13 home runs in 39.1 combined frames. Nuno will make his first appearance in this storied rivalry.