New York Yankees v. Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
The Red Sox come home from their post-All Star Game road trip having split their six games with Anaheim and Seattle.
The always intense series between New York and Boston has lived up to that billing this morning. The teams have met up nine times so far in 2008, and the Red Sox have prevailed in five meetings, despite actually being outscored by the Yankees on average 6.2 runs per game to 5.0 for the Sox.
Boston (67-36) enters the series with a 5.5 game lead over the Yankees (61-41), who lead the American League Wild Card race by 4.5 over Baltimore (57-46) and 9.5 over Oakland (51-50).
New York currently ranks first in the AL in both runs scored (561) and batting (.284 average). In addition, their pitching is second in runs allowed (424), with a 3.82 ERA from their starters (1st) and 3.87 from their bullpen (9th). The Red Sox, on the other hand, 8th n batting (.264), 3rd in runs scored (522), 2nd in starters' ERA (3.97) and 1st in bullpen ERA (3.02).
Both teams are without key parts of their pitching staff this time around. The Sox placed closer Jonathan Papelbon on the DL during the Seattle series with a dislocated shoulder. The Yankees have not fared as well. Currently, Chien-Ming Wang (inguinal hernia) is on the DL along with Carl Pavano, CF Johnny Damon (strained rotator cuff muscle), SS Derek Jeter (fractured arm), Philip Hughes, and Jonathan Albaladejo (heart disease).
Led by Alex Rodriguez (.319, 24 HRs, 81 RBIs) and Rookie of the Year shoe-in Joba Chamberlain (14-7, 2.99 ERA), New York has won 11 of their last 17.
Pitching Matchups:
7/25: Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-5, 3.30 ERA) v. Joba Chamberlain (14-7, 2.99)
7/26: Jon Lester (9-6, 4.16) v. Dan Giese (9-4, 3.24)
7/27: Tim Wakefield (10-6, 3.96) v. Mike Mussina (11-5, 4.15)