Are oddsmakers setting the bait in the July 23rd Yankees at Red Sox contest? New York is just a -110 favorite despite sending their ace Gerrit Cole (10-4, 2.63 ERA) to the mound after striking out 11 Red Sox batters last Saturday. Boston is listed at -109 for Friday’s tilt.
The Red Sox did tally a 5-4 win in the series opener on Thursday night in what was a very weird game that featured a rain delay and a bevy of wild pitches that led to a Boston comeback victory. The Yankees have dropped 8 of 10 games to the Red Sox this season, and have lost five straight at Fenway Park.
Roll With Cole?
The Yankees look like a steal at -110 with Cole on the hill. NYY was -107 in a Cole start vs. the Astros on July 10th and he responded with a complete game 3-hitter. The right-hander now has 23 Ks in his last two starts, including 11 over 6.0 IP vs. Boston in his last time out.
Cole is in the zone, giving up just 1 ER over his last two starts (15.0 IP) and giving up 2 ER or less in 5 of his last 7. Cole is 6-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 9 road starts this year but did get tagged for 5 ER over 5.0 IP at Fenway on June 27th in a 9-2 Boston win. The Yankees were listed at -147 in that game.
The Yankees took two of three at home vs. Boston last weekend, and Thursday night’s loss snapped a 4-game win streak overall. There’s reasons to be optimistic for a bounce back in the July 23rd Yankees at Red Sox matchup however. Gleyber Torres is getting hot with 3 HRs in his last five games and has 3 HR in 21 career ABs vs. Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 5.19 ERA).
Sox Go For Two
Boston scored just 6 total runs in their three game series with the Yankees last weekend, but things are already off to a better start as their 5-4 win on Thursday followed up a 13-4 thumping of Toronto in that series finale.
The Red Sox are holding on to a slight 1 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, but are 29-19 at home this year and have won five straight over the Yankees at Fenway Park. Boston has been powered by Enrique Hernandez as of late, as he had 2 HRs in the win over the Blue Jays and had a 2-out, 2-run double to tie things up in the 9th vs. New York on Thursday.
Rodriguez is looking for a second straight strong outing vs. the Yankees after giving up just 2 hits over 5.2 IP in a 4-0 Boston win last Friday as -111 favorites. He also allowed just 2 ER to New York in his last start at Fenway on June 27th, and the left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA vs. NYY on the year.
Free July 23rd Yankees at Red Sox Pick
Cole will likely be his usual great self in this one, but how much can the Yankees trust their bullpen after Thursday’s meltdown? Rodriguez can battle pitch-for-pitch with Cole, and although the total being 8.5 (which seems high) is a red flag, ultimately the under is the play.
Red Sox 4 – Yankees 3
Free Pick: Under 8.5
