It’s Red Sox vs. Yankees in the Bronx once again, and as usual, first place in the AL East is on the line. With less than two months left in the season and only six head-to-head games left after this series, each game counts between these two AL powerhouses.
So far this season, the Red Sox have dominated, beating the Yankees all eight times they have faced each other. Only two of those games were played at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox and Yankees did not play each other in July and what a difference a month has made.
When the teams last met at the beginning of June both teams were hot. The Red Sox had won four out of six. The Yankees had won five of seven and were up one game in the division.
The two met at Fenway Park and Boston swept the series, sending the Yankees into a tail spin, where they lost six out of their next ten. The Red Sox won eight out of their next 11 games.
The Yankees went a ho-hum 15–11 for the month of June. The Red Sox finished June on fire with a record of 18–8 and a 2.5 game lead over the Yankees.
But then came July. While the wheels came off for the Red Sox after the All-Star break, things started firing on all cylinders in the Bronx.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Red Sox won their last three games and seemed to be on their way to another great month. They won their first game back, but then dropped their next five.
The Yankees dropped their last three games before the all-star break and appeared to be headed into for another sub-par month. But instead, they came out from the break by winning their first eight games and finished July 11–4.
They finished July up 2.5 games over Boston in the AL East.
Going into Thursday’s game, the Yankees are up 2.5 games.
Boston will start veteran John Smoltz on Thursday to face Joba Chamberlain. Smoltz was acquired by Boston in the offseason and will start his first Red Sox–Yankee rivalry game.
Smoltz has had a shaky year after having off-season shoulder surgery, with a 2–4 record and a 7.12 ERA.
Chamberlain (7–2) has faced the Red Sox twice this year, earning a no-decision in April and a loss in May.
Chamberlain has won his last three starts and is obviously hoping to continue that trend and give the Yankees their first win against the Red Sox this season.
Friday will pit Boston ace Josh Beckett (13–4) against A.J. Burnett (10–5). Beckett leads the Majors with 13 wins, including two against the Yankees.
While Burnett lost his last start on Aug. 1, before that, he had not lost since June 20. He won all five of his starts in July.
Saturday’s action will see young Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz (1–1) against new Yankee, CC Sabathia (11–7).
Buchholz was just called up from the minors on July 22 when Tim Wakefield went on the DL. While Buchholz has not faced the Yankees this year, he did face them twice last year, earning two no-decisions in Red Sox losses.
Sabathia will start only his second Red Sox–Yankee rivalry having lost his first try on June 11.
The series finale will feature another young Boston pitcher, Jon Lester (9–7) against Yankee veteran Andy Pettitte (9–6). Lester has faced the Yankees twice this season, earning a no-decision and a win.
Pettitte lost to Boston in April and has been struggling as of late, going 1–3 in his last four starts.
If Boston continues its winning ways against the Yankees, these four games could provide them with another boost as in June. The Yankees cannot afford to let that happen and must take three out of four games.
So far this season, the Red Sox have dominated, beating the Yankees all eight times they have faced each other. Only two of those games were played at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox and Yankees did not play each other in July and what a difference a month has made.
When the teams last met at the beginning of June both teams were hot. The Red Sox had won four out of six. The Yankees had won five of seven and were up one game in the division.
The two met at Fenway Park and Boston swept the series, sending the Yankees into a tail spin, where they lost six out of their next ten. The Red Sox won eight out of their next 11 games.
The Yankees went a ho-hum 15–11 for the month of June. The Red Sox finished June on fire with a record of 18–8 and a 2.5 game lead over the Yankees.
But then came July. While the wheels came off for the Red Sox after the All-Star break, things started firing on all cylinders in the Bronx.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Red Sox won their last three games and seemed to be on their way to another great month. They won their first game back, but then dropped their next five.
The Yankees dropped their last three games before the all-star break and appeared to be headed into for another sub-par month. But instead, they came out from the break by winning their first eight games and finished July 11–4.
They finished July up 2.5 games over Boston in the AL East.
Going into Thursday’s game, the Yankees are up 2.5 games.
Pitching Match-ups
Boston will start veteran John Smoltz on Thursday to face Joba Chamberlain. Smoltz was acquired by Boston in the offseason and will start his first Red Sox–Yankee rivalry game.
Smoltz has had a shaky year after having off-season shoulder surgery, with a 2–4 record and a 7.12 ERA.
Chamberlain (7–2) has faced the Red Sox twice this year, earning a no-decision in April and a loss in May.
Chamberlain has won his last three starts and is obviously hoping to continue that trend and give the Yankees their first win against the Red Sox this season.
Friday will pit Boston ace Josh Beckett (13–4) against A.J. Burnett (10–5). Beckett leads the Majors with 13 wins, including two against the Yankees.
While Burnett lost his last start on Aug. 1, before that, he had not lost since June 20. He won all five of his starts in July.
Saturday’s action will see young Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz (1–1) against new Yankee, CC Sabathia (11–7).
Buchholz was just called up from the minors on July 22 when Tim Wakefield went on the DL. While Buchholz has not faced the Yankees this year, he did face them twice last year, earning two no-decisions in Red Sox losses.
Sabathia will start only his second Red Sox–Yankee rivalry having lost his first try on June 11.
The series finale will feature another young Boston pitcher, Jon Lester (9–7) against Yankee veteran Andy Pettitte (9–6). Lester has faced the Yankees twice this season, earning a no-decision and a win.
Pettitte lost to Boston in April and has been struggling as of late, going 1–3 in his last four starts.
If Boston continues its winning ways against the Yankees, these four games could provide them with another boost as in June. The Yankees cannot afford to let that happen and must take three out of four games.
