Boston Red Sox at NY Yankees Pick 8/4/19

Boston Red Sox (59-54) at New York Yankees (71-39)
When: 7 p.m., Sunday, August 4
Where: Yankee Stadium, New York

Moneyline: BOS Off/NYY Off
Runline: Red Sox Off/Yanks Off
Total: Off

Starting Pitchers: David Price (7-4, 3.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) vs. J.A. Happ (8-6, 5.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP)

Finishing Blow

Everything was going so well for the Red Sox last week when they were at Fenway Park. But moving to Yankee Stadium has revitalized the Yankees, who have punished the Red Sox with three straight victories. Since the Yankees won the last game at Fenway, it’s all gone wrong for the Red Sox, who have lost four straight to New York and seven in a row overall. Meanwhile, the Yankees have built their lead to 13.5 games in the AL East, and Boston is not only staring up at Tampa Bay as well, but the Red Sox have also fallen behind Cleveland and Oakland for a wild-card berth.

Psychologically, a four-game sweep at the hands of their most bitter rival would be devastating for the Red Sox. If they don’t get this game, it is probably over for them.

The Price of Failure

David Price had been the Red Sox’s stopper for most of the season, but July was simply not his month. Price has two losses and two no-decisions in his past four starts, all of which were Boston defeats. The last time the Red Sox won a game with Price on the mound came July 7 against the lowly Tigers, which barely counts. Even with that, he’s only managed to get past the sixth inning three times in the past ten instances where he’s taken the hill for the Red Sox.

Without their ace performing up to capacity, Boston will have to find another way to get the performances they need to overcome the Yankees’ bats and their high confidence.

Single Team Master

Happ’s record isn’t the greatest this season, but he has done one thing well: cause issues for the Red Sox. Happ is 2-0 this season against the Red Sox and hasn’t seen Boston since May, which could drastically change the makeup of the AL East if Boston is able to figure things out before the end of the season and best him. But it’s probably too late for the Red Sox to salvage much from this campaign, and they’re likely going to find it impossible to recover in time to overcome a 13.5 game deficit.

The Historicals

At 10-4 on the year against Boston, the Yankees have already won the season series from the Red Sox, which is sure to be a point of pride for New York fans. There isn’t much else that hasn’t been said about baseball’s best rivalry; these teams know each other and do not like each other, producing some great baseball in the process.

Betting Trends

• The Red Sox have lost seven straight against the AL East.
• The Red Sox are 7-1 in Price’s past eight Sunday starts.
• The Yankees have won their past four games against a left-handed starter
• The over is 12-3 in Boston’s previous 15 against a team with a winning record.
• The over is 4-0-1 in Happ’s past five Sunday starts.

Weather Report

Temperatures should be mild in the evening in the Bronx, as the slated temperature is 71 degrees at first pitch.

Dan’s pick

The Red Sox seem to be coming apart at the seams at the moment, and that’s not good news for Price, who badly needs his offense to produce for him in order to get himself and his team up off the mat. I don’t think that’s going to happen with this matchup. The Yankees have the better pitching and defense, and that’s all they need to have the advantage here. Give me New York to complete the sweep,