Yankees vs Red Sox – 2020 MLB Expert Analysis

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Yankees vs. Red Sox remains the marquee rivalry in baseball – just not this season as Boston is terrible. Streaking New York needs this series against its AL East rival to improve its playoff standing. Here’s a look at Friday’s series opener from Fenway Park with the Yankees on a crazy winning streak in the series.

How to Bet Yankees at Red Sox MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Fenway Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Jordan Montgomery/Martin Perez
TV: MLB Extra Innings, MLB Network (out of market)
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on NY Yankees? | 2020 MLB Expert Analysis

The Yankees are getting healthy! Sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were activated from long injury list stints earlier this week. “Judge and Stanton are coming back to save the day” has become an annual rite of passage for Yankee fans. The Yankees tried to keep Stanton upright by limiting him to DH duties, but his injury woes have continued after being limited to 18 regular-season games a year ago.

Last year, Stanton made it through just three and a half playoff games before straining his quad. Judge played the entire postseason with a fractured rib and hit just one homer. The Yankees plan to build both up in a progression so they may not play every day yet.

Third baseman Gio Urshela also was activated. However, shortstop Gleyber Torres is dealing with “a little bit of a quad” issue. Torres had recently completed a stint on the IL due to strains of his left quad and hamstring.

Meanwhile first baseman Luke Voit is battling for the home-run title and looks to become the eighth Yankee (would be the 18th time/17th season) to lead the Majors in home runs (outright or tied): Alex Rodriguez (2007), Roger Maris (1961), Mickey Mantle (1956), Joe DiMaggio (1937), Lou Gehrig (tied for the lead in 1931 and led in 1934, ’36), Babe Ruth (led in 1920-21, ’24, ’26-29; tied for the lead in 1923 and ’31) and Wally Pipp (tied for the lead in 1916).

It’s scheduled to be lefty Jordan Montgomery (2-2) on the mound here. Montgomery struck out a career-high nine batters over 5 2/3 innings last Saturday in a no-decision against the Orioles. He allowed just one unearned run on three hits and a walk. Hanser Alberto reached on a single in the sixth inning, advanced to second on an error, took third on a fly ball and then scored on an RBI single by Ryan Mountcastle to produce the O’s lone run. Montgomery only threw 72 pitches, 54 of those for strikes. He’ll carry a 4.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP into Friday’s outing.

Montgomery last faced Boston on Aug. 17. He pitched no-hit ball until J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez hit consecutive two-out singles in the fourth inning. Vazquez’s soft liner bounced off shortstop Mount castle Gleyber Torres’ glove on a tough play in shallow left field, allowing Martinez to score. The grounds crew came out moments later — just before a light drizzle turned into a downpour. Luis Avilan relieved Montgomery after the delay.

Why Bet on Boston? |2020 MLB Expert Analysis

The Red Sox are due considering they are 0-7 vs. the Yankees this season and look to avoid an embarrassing sweep. Overall, New York has won 10 in a row in the series, its best run against Boston since winning a franchise-record 12 consecutive games in 1952-53 when Red Sox star Ted Williams was serving in the Korean War. Neither the Red Sox nor Yankees have ever swept a season series vs. one another.

One Boston bright spot of late has been Matt Barnes. He has gone 7-for-9 in save opportunities and posted a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings since the Red Sox traded closer Brandon Workman to the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 21. The righty has allowed just two runs in 7 ⅔ innings while converting 5-of-6 save opportunities since Aug. 29. He has held the opposition to a .207 batting average during the stretch. Barnes is making a case to be the team’s 2021 closer.

Will Ron Roenicke return as Boston’s manager next year? Roenicke, who was named the Red Sox’s manager this season following the dismissal of Alex Cora over the winter, will see his contract run out after the 2020 season after spending three years with the team, the first two coming as a bench coach. Roenicke said he has not had conversations with chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom or anyone in the front office about plans for next season yet.

It’s lefty Martin Perez (3-4) on the mound here. Perez allowed three runs — two earned — over five innings last Sunday against the Rays. Perez allowed five hits and walked two, and he struck out six. He allowed a two-run homer to Kevan Smith, but outside of that, threw enough strikes to be effective. He now has an ERA of 4.33 with a less-than-spectacular 37/26 K/BB ratio in 10 starts.

Perez faced the Yankees on Aug. 17. He surrendered three runs in three innings before a rain delay ended his start. Perez walked three and hit a batter. Just 30 of his 58 pitches were strikes.