Rivalry Renewed: Red Sox & Yankees Round 3

First place in the AL East is on the line this week when the best rivalry in all of professional sports renews in the Bronx.  The Red Sox, winners of three straight, travel to New York to take on the Yankees for the third series of the year between these two bitter rivals.

So far this season the head to head match ups have tilted in Boston’s favor, going 5-1 through the first two series, including a 3 game sweep of the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

Both clubs are on a bit of a roll as of late.   New York has one 6 of their last 7, while the Red Sox finished off a 3 game sweep of Oakland over the weekend.  The offense has been firing on all cylinders for the Red Sox, scoring 23 runs against Oakland’s pitching.  But with the Yankees throwing their two best starting pitchers at Boston this series, it should be an exciting three days as the Red Sox will counter with their top two starters.

Here is a more in depth look at the starting pitching match ups:

Tuesday, June 7, 7:05 PM ET

LHP  Jon Lester (7-2,  3.94 ERA)  vs.  RHP Freddy Garcia (4-4,  3.34 ERA)

Lester lifetime record against New York: 7-1, 3.49 ERA.  87 strikeouts in 80.o IP

Garcia lifetime record against Boston: 8-3,  4.56 ERA.  85 strikeouts in 106.2 IP

Wednesday, June 8, 7:05 PM ET

RHP Tim Wakefield (2-1,  4.40 ERA)  vs.  RHP A.J. Burnett (6-3,  3.86 ERA)

Wakefield last 10 years against New York: 7-13,  4.58 ERA.  132 strikeouts in 198.1 IP

Burnett lifetime against Boston: 5-3,  4.79 ERA.  83 strikeouts in 92.0 IP

Thursday, June 9, 7:05 PM ET

RHP Josh Beckett (4-2,  2.01 ERA)  vs.  LHP CC Sabathia (7-3,  2.80 ERA)

Beckett lifetime against New York: 12-7,  5.66 ERA.  132 strikeouts in 146.1 IP

Sabathia lifetime against Boston: 6-7,  3.63 ERA.  93 strikeouts in 114.0 IP

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