Red Sox Series Preview: Round 2 Vs. Yankees at Fenway

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Apr 29, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter

Alex Rodriguez

(13) reacts after making the final out of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in thirteen innings at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox (12-10) will host the New York Yankees (13-9) at Fenway Park for their second series of 2015. The Red Sox are just one game back of the American League East division leader, and Boston will be looking to pass them in the series, to add another chapter in this historic rivalry.

Another element to the three-game series will be if Yankees Alex Rodriguez hits home run number 660 against the Red Sox. Boston’s pitchers will do their best to make sure that doesn’t happen, but will it be inevitable? Later today, that question will be examined, but let’s look at the tale of the tape for now:

Apr 27, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

Joe Kelly

(56) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups @ Fenway Park:

May 1, 7:10 PM ET

C.C. Sabathia (0-4, 5.96 ERA) vs. Justin Masterson (2-0, 5.16 ERA)
If it wasn’t for the Red Sox run support, Masterson could easily be in the same position as Sabathia. In four starts, Masterson has hit 4 opposing batsmen, allowed 13 runs, including a home run, and 9 walks. He does, also, have 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Masterson has also only reached the end of seven innings once in those starts.
Sabathia has reached the end of seven and eight innings in two of his four starts. However, he has been knocked around much more than Masterson. Allowing 31 hits, 17 earned runs, 4 home runs, and 4 walks, Sabathia has had a rough start to the year. At least he’s only hit one batter.

May 2, 1:35 PM ET

Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (1-2, 8.62 ERA)
These starters must feel like anything could happen in their next starts. Eovaldi has only lasted seven innings once in his four starts, while Miley has two starts that lasted a third into the third inning. For two men brought in to stabilize their respective rotations and eat up innings, that hasn’t happened much, lately.
After blanking the Tampa Bay Rays in six innings, Miley gave up six runs and two walks in only a little more than two innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Eovaldi gave up four runs in just over four innings against the New York Mets. The matchup could be low-scoring, but don’t expect it to happen.

May 3, 8:05 PM ET

Adam Warren (1-1, 4.35 ERA) vs. Joe Kelly (1-0, 4.94 ERA)
After starting hot off of the disabled list, Kelly has given up five runs in each of his last two starts. However, he also earned a combined 17 strikeouts in those starts, as well, which was much higher than his first two starts. It could be a sign that he’s trying to do too much to help the team win, trying to strike everyone out, instead of opting for the ball in play for outs. We shall see.
Warren’s only loss is against the Red Sox; however, before we start to crow our way to victory, it should be noted that he only gave up a run for his 5.1 innings of work. It wasn’t that he played badly; he just needed more run support. His last outing against the Rays had the same result: 5 hits, 1 earned run, in 5.2 innings. Kelly will need his A-game to battle Warren for the win.

Apr 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits an RBI double against the New York Mets during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees Key Players To Watch:

Alex Rodriguez will be the player to watch not only for his recent play, but also for his potential history-making home run. As he sits on 659, his next homer will tie him with Willie Mays for fourth all-time. If he does it in Boston, will the fans cheer or boo him? Will some boos come from Yankee fans? The tension that he has created for the time he has been in pinstripes may be washed away with records being broken and games being won, but it could also be a sore-spot for some Yankee fans who remember their former greats who could hit home runs without scandals of supposed steroid use.

First baseman Mark Teixeira is leading the team with 18 RBIs. However, in five of the last ten games, he has not recorded a run batted in. In his last four games, he has only had one hit. Is it because teams have figured out how to stop his onslaught from weeks earlier, or is it time that Teixeira comes out of his slump? When there’s talent, there’s always a chance.

Right fielder Chris Young has made a name for himself, this season, with the Yankees. From 2006 to 2012, he spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, before playing a season with the Oakland Athletics. After a brief stint with the New York Mets, in 2014, he made his way across town to the Yankees. This season, he has 5 home runs and 11 RBIs, while hitting .305 with a .644 slugging percentage. With that kind of power added to a good-hitting eye for pitches, the Red Sox starters will have to be wary of this man.

Apr 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder

Mookie Betts

(50) signals after catching a fly ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman

Devon Travis

(not pictured) during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox Key Players To Watch:

Center fielder Mookie Betts is coming off of his latest memorable moment, with his big catch at the wall against the Toronto Blue Jays. He also had the walk-off single to win the game before. It seems, whether on the field or at the plate, Betts finds a way to contribute. With 6 hits and 4 RBIs in his last 4 games, Betts is the man to watch for the Red Sox.

Left fielder Hanley Ramirez hurt his foot a little while ago, but he didn’t let it slow him down, much. In his last 7 games, Ramirez has 5 home runs and 10 RBIs, while hitting .360. Han-Ram also has the season’s home run lead with Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners, leading both major leagues with 10 homers. Red-hot Ramirez will be the force that the Yankees will fear most in this series.

After a bit of a slow start, third baseman Pablo Sandoval has been hitting much better. He has raised his batting average to .312, with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs in his last 10 games. Although he went 0-for-4 in his last game against the Toronto Blue Jays, most of those at-bats were against knuckler R.A. Dickey. Sandoval won’t see a pitcher like that in this series. Considering he has been hitting .385 at Fenway Park, Kung Fu Panda should have the confidence to belt some Bronx-Bomber pitching.

Apr 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher

Ryan Hanigan

(10) celebrates with pitcher

Koji Uehara

(19) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Predictions:

Game 1 Winner – Boston Red Sox, in a blowout, if Masterson can keep getting important outs.

Game 2 Winner – New York Yankees, as they may get to Miley early.

Game 3 Winner – Boston Red Sox, in a tight battle, if Kelly can rise to the occasion.

The Red Sox should be able to take at least two of the three games against the Yankees, despite the fact that New York is the division leader. If it wasn’t for a bad showing against the Baltimore Orioles, Boston would be leading the division, at this point. While the Orioles have some hot hitters like Adam Jones, the Yankees have been sputtering lately for run support. According to ESPN, the Orioles lead the division with scoring 42 runs in the last 7 days. In that same span, the Red Sox have scored 37 runs, while the Yankees have crossed home plate only 26 times.

If the Red Sox continue to outscore their opponents, then they should be fine in this series. If the Yankees, all of a sudden, discover their pitching skills are better than their records indicate, then Boston’s starters better be able to last long enough to hand the ball to their closer Koji Uehara. Otherwise, it could be a rough series for Red Sox Nation.

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