The Yankees look to keep their hold on first place in the congested AL East heading into the All-Star break and improve on their road record while putting an end to the hated Red Sox recent run of success.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Yankees’ lead in the division would be greater if they could win on the road. New York has played sub-.500 ball away from Yankee Stadium, going just 21-23 down 1.3 units on the moneyline. However, they swept the Sox during a three-game set in Fenway Park back in early May. The under is 8-2 in New York’s last 10 road games and the Yankees cashed the under in each of Nathan Eovaldi’s last three starts.
The Red Sox enter the weekend having climbed back into the AL East race with wins in eight of their last 10 games and they look to erase the embarrassment of a three-game home sweep at the hands of the Yankees during their last visit. The Sox are getting closer to the break-even point at home, improving to 20-24 at Fenway Park following a four-game win streak that included a pair of victories over Miami and Houston. The Sox have won each of Wade Miley’s last five home starts scoring 27 runs in those games.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Nathan Eovaldi (8-2, 4.45 ERA) limited the A’s to two runs in 5.1 innings on Tuesday but was pulled after just 86 pitches and got a no-decision in a 10-inning Yankees loss. He’s put together four solid outings since getting blown up by the Marlins on June 16, but hasn’t been able to escape the sixth inning in his last two.
Both of his career starts against the Sox have come this season and he picked up a win giving up two runs in 6.2 innings at Fenway Park on May 2. The Sox hit .306 against him with 15 hits in his 12 innings.
Wade Miley (8-7, 4.50 ERA) looked dominant but faltered late, allowing three runs in 6.2 innings with a season-high nine strikeouts, getting a no-decision as the Sox topped the Marlins on Tuesday. He’s struggled with command and high pitch counts in his last five turns, issuing 16 walks while not getting past the seventh inning.
He’s 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season and owns a 3.79 ERA over 19 innings of three career starts.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I feel like I threw the ball pretty well. My split felt good. I’ve just got to do a better job of going deeper into ballgames. I didn’t feel like attacked the hitters as well as I should have, getting first-pitch strikes. It’s just one of the little things I’ve got to do better.” – Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on being lifted after 5.1 innings in his last start.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Yankees are hopeful that they’ll have Chase Headley back in the lineup this weekend, but if he’s unable to go they have Triple-A call up Cole Figueroa ready. His promotion proved to be a good move by the Yankees as Figueroa went 2 for 4 with two runs and two doubles in his Yankees debut Wednesday. “Obviously, making a good first impression was nice. Hopefully I can continue that,” he said. In 77 games at Triple-A this year, Figueroa hit .317 with 36 RBIs, 17 doubles and three home runs. Headley underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday that revealed inflammation in his right calf. Depending on how Headley responds to treatment, the Yankees may hold him out through the All-Star break in hopes of a full recovery during the down time.
PROP TALK
Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner is going to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career and it’s a deserving honor for the man who kept the team afloat with Jacoby Ellsbury on the disabled list. Gardner hit a home run and had his seventh game of three or more hits this season, helping the Yankees finish their final homestand before the break with a 6-2 win over the A’s on Thursday. He ended the day hitting .303 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. He’s hitting .338 since June 1 and has 10 hits in 30 at-bats with a homer, five runs scored and eight RBIs in six games against the Sox. Gardner’s also enjoyed success off Wade Miley with a .444 career average against the lefty.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Yankees have handled Wade Miley rather well this season and there’s no reason to assume he’s figured them out. A balanced attack with power from both sides of the plate makes the Yanks a tough team to pitch against. Miley has struggled with his control recently issuing 16 walks in his last five outings and has a .269 opponent’s batting average. Giving extra base runners to a team that’s second in runs scored isn’t good. The Yankees make Miley and the Sox pay and head into the break on a winning streak.
New York 5, Boston 4
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