Weekend MLB Preview: Yankees renew rivalry with Red Sox

Baseball’s most historic rivalry will be renewed this weekend, as the New York Yankees (92-49) travel to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox (75-65). Here’s what bettors should be expecting throughout the nationally televised series.

Red Sox at Yankees, Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET, MLBN

Yankees starter Domingo German (17-3, 4.01 ERA) is likely to add to his MLB lead in wins, as he matches up with Red Sox starter Jhoulys Chacin (3-10, 5.79 ERA) on Friday night.

German owns an 8.00 strikeout/walk ratio against Boston in three starts this year and has made a habit out of getting the “big out” in those games. Center fielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez have combined for just one hit off the Dominican native in 20 at-bats.

Chacin reappears in the big leagues for the first time since July 24, as the Red Sox rotation is in shambles at the moment. The Venezuelan has allowed an alarming 19 home runs in 88 innings this year, which plays right into New York’s hands. The Bombers are second in the majors in home runs this year (263). Catcher Gary Sanchez, who has gone deep five times in his last seven games, is one to keep an eye on.

Chasing Chacin early to get to Boston’s bullpen (17th in ERA at 4.42) would set the Yankees up for success throughout the series.

MLB free play: Yankees runline

Saturday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1

Boston has yet to name a starter for Saturday afternoon’s affair, but the Red Sox lineup should do its job against J.A. Happ (11-8, 5.34 ERA), suggesting an Over is in store.

Happ produced a miserable 7.30 ERA in August, which included a rough start against Boston on August 4. Martinez and second baseman Michael Chavis each tallied two hits off Happ and chased him before the end of the sixth inning. The Red Sox are good for 5.72 runs per game at home this year, which is third in the majors.

As of Thursday the Red Sox have 17 relievers in their bullpen thanks to September call-ups. Whoever starts Saturday will probably not pitch more than a pair of innings against one of the game’s most dangerous lineups.

Sunday, 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

When New York’s Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.42 ERA) and Boston’s Rick Porcello (12-11, 5.63 ERA) last met July 25, the Red Sox tagged the former for 12 runs in 3 1/3 innings en route to a 19-3 slaughter. Porcello tossed a quality start in that game, a rare sight for him this year. But based on long-term splits, both of these starters could keep their opposing hitters quiet through five frames.

Prior to 2019 Tanaka was 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 11 starts against Boston, with a nearly 4/1 strikeout/walk ratio. Porcello was even stronger in his last 11 starts against the Bombers prior to this year, as he went 5-4 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.009 WHIP.

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