Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Boston Red Sox play a three-game series at Yankee Stadium starting on Friday night…
Preview
Rivalry renewed?
Although the Red Sox were not a playoff team and the Yankees went on to secure the No. 1 seed in the American League, New York had a 7-6 record against Boston a year ago. That included the Red Sox taking three of four from the Yankees at Fenway Park in mid-September. With the youth movement and high-profile free agents the Red Sox brought in, it was expected that these two teams would fight for the AL East crown.
As June has begun, the Red Sox are a mess. They’re four games under .500 and are 3-7 in their last 10 games.
However, this is the first time these two rivals will meet this year. Could Boston give the Yankees a tough series?
Can Will Warren put LA behind him?
Warren was having the best stretch of his young career before he stumbled during the West Coast road trip, especially in Los Angeles. Warren didn’t make it out of the second inning, allowing seven runs in the Dodgers’ shellacking of the Yankees last Saturday. He’ll be the starter in the series opener on Friday, and he’ll be tasked with setting the tone for the weekend. Can he return to form and help the Yankees get to an early lead in the series?
Carlos Rodon pitching like an ace
Rodon has been amazing. Over his last seven starts, he’s pitched to a 5-0 record and a 1.65 ERA. He’ll take the mound in the series finale on Sunday and could be the difference between a series win or loss.
The Yankees need him to be great because Warren may not bounce back,, and although Ryan Yarbrough has been great, how long can New York depend on him? That’s especially the case when Yarbrough will go up against Garrett Crochet.
Turnaround for Jazz Chisholm Jr.
In the three games since his return from the IL, Chisholm has been great at the plate. He’s 5-for-11 with a home run and two RBI while also playing solid third base. Yes, that’s a small sample size, but Chisholm has returned with the mentality that this is a new season for him and he’s taking advantage of it. Can he do so again this weekend?
Aaron Judge’s pursuit of .400
Judge is having an MVP season already, but what everyone is watching is his batting average. Heading into the weekend, Judge is hitting .392 and will hope to get back up to .400 this weekend. He’ll be going up against some tough pitchers in Walker Buehler and Crochet, who he doesn’t have much experience against (1-for-4, K combined against both pitchers) and has not faced Sunday starter Hunter Dobbins, a rookie, yet.
While it’s difficult for any player to maintain such a high batting mark, Judge could conceivably keep this pace up.
Predictions
Who will be the MVP of the series?
Aaron Judge
With the Red Sox struggling, this series may not be as firey as years past, but Judge always seems to rise to the occasion.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Carlos Rodon
Rodon has been the second-best pitcher for the Yankees, but has been THE best over the last couple of weeks.
Which Red Sox player will be a thorn in Yankees’ side?
Rafael Devers
Even if Gerrit Cole isn’t pitching, Devers gives the Yankees fits, especially at Yankee Stadium.
Read the full article here