New York Yankees (83-63) PK, o/u 10 at Boston Red Sox (89-58), 7:05 pm Eastern Friday, ESPN
by Zman of Predictem.com
A couple of the big dogs of the American League meet when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox begin their final regular-season series this year Friday night at Fenway Park.
New York, winners of seven of its last eight games, trails Boston, which has won nine of its last 12, by 5 games in the AL East with just three weeks to go. But the Yankees lead the AL wild-card race by 3 games over the Detroit Tigers, so there is still a decent chance these two teams will hook up in the post-season.
New York is 20 games over .500 on the season, but just 36-36 on the road. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 20 games over .500 just at home this season at 46-26.
The Yanks lead the season series eight games to seven this season, with the o/u going 9-6.
Andy Pettitte (13-8, 3.78) gets the start in the series opener Friday night for New York, against the struggling Daisuke Matsuzaka (14-12, 4.44) for Boston.
Pettitte has allowed 10 ER and 30 baserunners (hits + walks) in his last 19 2/3 IP. The Yankees are 18-12 in Pettitte’s starts this season, the o/u 13-15.
Pettitte has started five games already this season vs. the Red Sox, giving up 16 ER and 47 baserunners in 29 1/3 IP. New York is 3-2 in those starts, the o/u 4-1.
Matsuzaka is coming off his worst outing of his short ML career, and has allowed 20 ER and 29 baserunners over just his last 14 1/3 IP. Boston is 15-14 in Matsuzaka’s starts this season, the o/u 13-16.
Matsuzaka has started three games vs. the Yankees this season, giving up 15 ER and 27 baserunners in 19 1/3 IP. The Sox are 2-1 in those starts, the o/u also 2-1.
New York pitching has been pretty solid recently, holding seven of its last 10 opponents to three runs or less.
The Yankees own the best team OBP in the league this season, .363, and are averaging a very healthy 5.9 runs per game.
Boston ranks second in the league with its .362 team OBP and is averaging 5.4 RPG.
The New York bullpen has allowed four ER and 16 baserunners over its last 12 IP.
The Red Sox pen has given up five ER and 21 baserunners in its last 21 1/3 IP.
Boston slugger Manny Ramirez, who’s missed the Sox last 15 games with a strained oblique, is listed as questionable for Friday’s game.
The o/u is 67-68 in Yankees games this year, 67-76 in Boston games, and 38-31 at Fenway Park, where games are averaging 10.2 run per this season.
The Predictem Pick: We like the Yankees at -118.
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