Friday MLB preview: Red Sox at Yankees, Nationals at Diamondbacks

Boston Red Sox (59-51) at New York Yankees (68-39), 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network

Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 4.13 ERA) (BOS) +120 / +1.5 runs (-160) / Over 10 runs (-115) James Paxton (5-6, 4.72 ERA) (NYY) -130 / -1.5 runs (+135) / Under 10 runs (-105)

MLB free play: Red Sox moneyline

The Red Sox offer tremendous value Friday night, as they kick off a four-game series with the Yankees in the Bronx.

Reliable right-hander Eduardo Rodriguez will start for Boston, and he's fresh off a 5-0 July, in which he had a 2.03 ERA. New York right fielder Aaron Judge has just one hit—a single—in 15 prior at-bats against Rodriguez.

Slumping southpaw James Paxton will counter for the Bombers. He owns a 6.38 ERA in his last 10 efforts and has allowed 14 home runs in the process. The Red Sox took him deep four times at Fenway Park last weekend, including three from right fielder Mookie Betts. Boston's bats are third in baseball in runs per game on the road this year (5.86).

Washington Nationals (57-51) at Arizona Diamondbacks (54-55), 9:40 p.m. ET

Joe Ross (0-3, 9.85 ERA) (WSH) +135 / +1.5 runs (-155) / Over 9.5 runs (-110) Robbie Ray (9-7, 3.91 ERA) (ARZ) -150 / -1.5 runs (+130) / Under 9.5 runs (-110)

MLB free play: Over

A slew of crooked numbers should be expected on the Chase Field scoreboard Friday night.

Joe Ross is merely a rotation filler for the Nationals, as they wait for Max Scherzer to return from the IL. His WHIP over 24 2/3 innings this season is a sky-high 2.108. The Diamondbacks, ninth in the majors in runs per game this year (5.12), should have no problem scoring early. Then they can enjoy going after the Nats' dreadful bullpen that has produced a 5.69 ERA over the last two weeks.

It won't necessarily be a cakewalk for the D-backs though, as starter Robbie Ray's first outing against Washington this year was one to forget. He allowed five earned runs over six innings at Nationals Park on June 14. Assuming he's chased early, that will mean extra work for an Arizona bullpen that sports a 5.66 ERA in the last 14 days. Third baseman Anthony Rendon (4-for-10 against Ray), as usual, should spark Washington's offense.