MLB Baseball
2012-07-28 - Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Saturday 28 July 2012 - First Pitch 4:05pm ET
9:05pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
The New York Yankees (60-39) have been dominating their old rivals the Boston Red Sox (49-51) and that has also seen them dominate the American League East so far this season. The Yankees lead the Division by 8.5 games and they are a further 3 games clear of the Red Sox after destroying them 10-3 in the opener of this three game series in the Bronx.
Everyone knows that the Yankees have one of the most explosive batting line ups in the Major Leagues, but no one can tell you more about that than the Boston Red Sox who have been shelled for 59 runs in their 7 games in the 2012 season against New York.
Those numbers will not make good reading for Jon Lester who has a 5-8 record this season and a 5.46 ERA in what has been a disappointing season for the pitching ace. It has been even worse of late for Lester as he has given up 22 runs and issued 10 walks in his last three starts, all in losing decisions.
Lester also struggled when he last saw the New York batting line up in front of him as he gave up 5 runs in just over 4 innings pitched as the Red Sox were beaten 7-3. His last start in the Bronx came in the 2011 season and he was roughed up for 8 runs in under 3 innings pitched although he did have a 6-1 record and a 2.67 ERA in his 9 previous starts in this area of New York.
With Lester likely facing a problem again today, New York will feel they can complete the series win as they give the ball to CC Sabathia who is 10-3 this season with a 3.30 ERA but will be facing Boston for the first time.
Sabathia has gone 3-0 in his last 5 starts for the Yankees and he has a 2.60 ERA, although he will want a little better command than what he showed against Oakland last time out. In that outing, Sabathia allowed 3 runs, including 2 Home Runs, in 7 innings but was not given the loss despite the Yankees going down 5-4.
The ace in the Yankees rotation has actually lost his last 2 home starts against Boston, giving up 6 runs in both of those in under 7 innings pitched.
Head to Head
It is no surprise that the Yankees are leading the season series 6-1 after totalling 59 runs in those games.
The Yankees are 3-1 in their last 4 home games against Boston, but they had been just 1-9 in their previous 10 at home against their old rival.
New York are 31-17 at home this season, Boston are 24-23 on the road.
New York are 21-10 in day games this season, Boston are 13-19.
Prediction
After shortlisting a few games, this is going to be my only play of the day and that is taking the New York Yankees to continue their scoring outburst against the Boston Red Sox and win this game by a couple of runs at the least.
Jon Lester has been struggling on the mound in recent starts and that does not envision a good time for him in this game while he has already taken a little bit of a beating from this batting line up earlier this month.
That should give CC Sabathia a little more room to dominate knowing that the batting line up will give him runs and I like the Yankees, at odds against, to cover the run line.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 7-3 Boston Red Sox
