The New York Yankees have flat-out owned the Boston Red Sox in the recent rivalry. In sweeping the BoSox right out of Yankee Stadium earlier this season, New York will enter Friday night’s series opener winners of six straight and 11 of the last 12 overall meetings. On top of that, oddsmakers at online sportsbooks installed them favorites to come out on top in 10 of those matchups! The Bronx Bombers have come out the victor nine of the last 10 times they hosted this rivalry with the under cashing in six times and an average of 9.3 runs scored per game. Even with J.A. Happ on the bump for the Sunday nighter, the Yankees will be installed heavy favorites with Boston likely calling an arm up from Pawtucket to make the spot start.
First pitch for the game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, 2020, at 7:08 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium. The matchup will be shown live on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast. You can bet on MLB Odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
Odds Analysis
In dropping a fourth straight at home to the Rays on Thursday afternoon, Ron Roenicke’s squad invades the Big Apple losers in five of its last six games to bring up the rear of the AL East standings behind the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox possess losing records both at home and on the road where they’ve dropped four of seven games but still produced a modest $57 profit due to being tabbed underdogs in each contest.
The Yankees entered this series off a full day of rest which should benefit the team with Aaron Judge ailing. His absence didn’t matter against the Atlanta Braves whom it still bludgeoned by the aggregate score of 15-9 to sweep the two-game series. Aaron Boone’s squad pulled 1.5-games ahead of the Rays for the division lead in the process. Though their 12-6 record has only produced $78 in overall profit for MLB bettors, the team’s been lights out at home where it’s been upended once through seven tries; good for a $218 return on investment. The over is 3-2-2 to date.
Probable Pitchers
Undecided: Rumors are swirling that right-hander Dylan Covey could be taken out of the pen to make his first start of the 2020 season. Other options down on the farm could possibly be Tanner Houck, Bryan Mata, Chris Mazza or Mike Shawaryn. Boston’s desperate for starting help due to the injuries to Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see them look to Pawtucket for some innings tonight.
J.A. Happ: Happ’s turn was skipped in the rotation due to the veteran left-hander getting out to a wretched start to the 2020 campaign. He opposed the Orioles and Phillies in his first two outings and got ripped for seven hits (3 HR) and 8 ER while walking eight and only striking three opposing batters out. Boston’s been much better against left-handed pitching this season with it ranked No. 11 overall with a .274 batting average and .777 OPS. Having said that, Happ’s excelled versus the BoSox in the past going 11-4 with a 3.00 ERA and .341 BAA over 24 career starts.
Player Prop Targets
Happ has had excellent success against the big bats of Mitch Moreland and Xander Bogaerts as well as J.D. Martinez whom he’s limited to three hits (1 HR) and just 1 RBI while fanning him four times through nine career at-bats. That however isn’t the case when it comes to catcher Christian Vazquez whose two career hits over six at-bats left the yard. Should a total bases or home run prop surface, you might want to entertain the thought of throwing a beer money investment on Boston’s backstop making some noise in this spot with Happ’s stuff currently not up to snuff.
MLB Pick
I don’t care who takes the bump for the Red Sox on Sunday night; I have absolutely no inclination to lay chalk with Happ in this matchup. Though Boston isn’t the team it once was, it’s going to take the field with reckless abandon over the course of this series knowing full well it must win it to remain competitive within the AL East and have a shot at locking down a playoff spot. With that, I recommend hitting Boston on the first five inning betting line and back it up with a run-line position just in case they blow the game late just like they did the first time they ran up against the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball.
MLB Odds: Red Sox 6, Yankees 5
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