Two hard-throwing right-handers step onto the national stage in the battle of AL East rivals.
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Boston suffered a 5-2 loss to the Yankees in the second game of this four-game showdown at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox have still won eight of their last 12 games and 10 of their last 16 overall. The team has had its trouble against tonight’s opponent recently, dropping 10 of the last 14 meetings since August 23, 2009 and are 5-15 versus the Yankees since August 6, 2009. Since 2003, the Red Sox trail 80-74 in the series, but have outscored the Bronx Bombers by a 859-828 margin. Boston is 52-32 in night games this season (+870) and the total is 45-35 O/U in those contests. Third baseman Adrian Beltre will likely lead the offensive charge, coming into tonight’s contest with a 13-game hitting streak. The team is hoping outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury can get things going in front of a national audience, as he’s hitless in 12 at-bats since returning from the disabled list.
Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett is 3-1 with a 5.70 ERA in 11 starts this season and has made three starts since coming back from the disabled list. Over that span, he had led the team to victories in each game, allowing five runs and 13 hits over 20.2 innings. The right-hander is a perfect 2-0 with a 5.24 ERA in six road starts this year, surrendering just two home runs in 34.1 frames. Beckett will be making his fourth start of the year against New York, going 0-1 with a 10.43 ERA. He has given up 19 runs (17 earned) and 22 hits in just 14.2 innings of work. His nine career wins versus the Yankees are his most against any opponent. In three lifetime outings at the new Yankee Stadium, his record stands at 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA.
New York comes into this game with a 1.5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East division and a six game lead over the Red Sox. The Yankees have won 15 of the last 20 meetings with tonight’s opponent, including a 9-2 mark at home. The club is now 25-17 against divisional opponents and pushed its record to 36-19 at Yankee Stadium. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez was scratched from yesterday’s starting lineup due to taking a line drive off his left leg in batting practice. “I was up close doing my infield-in work, which made it worse,” Rodriguez said. “Do I expect him to play tomorrow? I have no idea,” manager Joe Girardi said. New York is 12-6 this year when playing on Sunday (+470) and the total is 12-5 O/U.
Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett is an even 9-9 with a 4.93 ERA in 22 starts this season, but is coming off one of his worst outings of the year. In a 8-6 home loss to the Blue Jays, he allowed eight runs and eight hits over just 4.2 innings of work. Before that start, the right-hander had picked up consecutive victories over the Indians and Royals, with the team outscoring them by a 15-1 margin. He is an even 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 10 home starts this season. Burnett has not won his last seven starts versus the Red Sox, going 0-3 with a 8.35 ERA. He was 13-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 starts not at Fenway Park in 2009. Before the 2009 season, he had been undefeated in eight career starts against Boston, going 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA.
Bettors will find the Red Sox being 15-7 in Beckett’s last 22 starts versus the AL East and the over has cashed in nine of his last 11 starts versus the division. This fits well with New York failing to cash its last seven chances with Burnett on the hill against divisional foes.
