Yankees & Red Sox Game Preview: Add Another Page To Baseball’s Biggest Rivalry [Start Time]

After mother nature pumped the breaks on baseball’s biggest rivalry Thursday night, the first place New York Yankees will take on the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. While Boston continues to tread water and hold a winning record, this once dominant American league steamroller now shows holes and weaknesses which seemed nonexistent during last year’s campaign. Unlike their rival, the Yankees once again stand as a top tier team throughout the league, currently enjoying a first place position atop the AL East despite core players such as Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorious, Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Severino sidelined with injuries. Although many games remain unplayed for both squads, this series carries ample gravity, as the Yankees will look to inflate their first place cushion, while Boston attempts to scratch their way back into contention.

The Red Sox currently pair 29 wins with 27 losses, dwarfing last year’s historic campaign which had already acquired 39 wins by June. Feeling the championship hangover the most stands Chris Sale, who once seemed un–hittable as a Cy Young candidate, no longer terrifies hitters, as his ERA climbs to 4.2 and accompanies a 1–6 record. However, Boston’s bullpen pitching remains the team’s most potent concern, as the late game hurlers consistently to blow late game leads like nobody’s business. Just this week, the Boston bullpen staff failed to protect leads against the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indias, both affairs resulting in losses for the Sox. Combatting his teammates lackluster play and working to keep Boston away from mediocrity stands Rafael Devers, who gives fans reasons to smile with his .325 batting average and team–leading 69 hits.

Although most predicted New York to thrive this year and illustrate potential to bring the Commissioner’s Trophy back to the Bronx, the steps taken so far resulting in their surge warrant candid shock, yet appreciation. The injury bug bit New York early, as those assembling the Yankees’s injured list will likely run out of ink soon.

With so much talent unable to take the field, the Yankees’s unavoidable yet beneficial turn to their bench and AAA players continues to propel the team, as players such as D.J. Lemahieu, Gio Urshela, Clint Frazier continually play impressively as this “B cast” reels in win after win. The few stars remaining healthy such as Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres contribute as well, as both sluggers combine for 31 home runs and 64 RBIs. The Yankees currently tally 36 wins along with 19 losses, riding a hot streak winning 13 during their last 16 contests .

Although Boston famously mocked the bombers by playing Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”once winning the last year’s World Series, the Yankees will look to cause reason for the song to ring through the Bronx in celebration once more tonight as J.A. Happ will get ascend to the pitcher’s mound against Sale. Expect first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ETS.