MLB Predictions: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

The New York Yankees (12-9) and Boston Red Sox (10-12) will continue an American League East series Thursday night at Fenway Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees SP CC Sabathia has been knocked around at Fenway Park in recent years

New York had its two-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night, as it dropped a 5-1 decision to Boston as +102 road underdogs, while going UNDER the betting total of 9. The Yankees are 12-1 this season when leading after six innings, and 0-8 when tied or trailing after six frames. Offensively, the team’s 17 home runs since April 8 is good for third-most in the AL over that span, while it tallied just a single roundtripper in its first seven contests. New York is 3-3 as road underdogs of +100 to +125 this season, with the OVER going 4-2 in that situation.

Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (2-2, 5.19 ERA) has alternated wins and losses in his first four efforts, as he comes off a 10-2 road victory over the Tampa Bay Rays last time out—surrendering two runs (one earned) and seven hits over seven innings of work. The left-hander has compiled a 47-27 record in 88 road efforts since joining the Bronx Bombers in 2009. In 10 efforts at this ballpark since landing in the Bronx, Sabathia has gone 3-4 with a 6.71 ERA.

Boston has split its first six games of its current homestand, while it has won all three rubber games played thus far during the 2014 MLB campaign. The Red Sox rank second in baseball in seeing 3,367 pitches this season, while three members of their bullpen have combined to throw 31.0 scoreless innings. First baseman Mike Napoli is important to handicap in this matchup, as he’s reached base safely in a career-high 18 consecutive contests. Boston is 1-4 at home with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.

Red Sox starting pitcher Felix Doubront (1-2, 5.48 ERA) began the year with a victory but has gone winless over his last three efforts, as he prepares to face the Yankees for the second time. The left-hander owns a 3-3 record and 4.15 ERA in his career in this rivalry, including a 2-2 mark and 4.26 ERA in seven appearances at this venue.