The Red Sox and Yankees early results: How do they match-up?

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 27: Aaron Hicks #31 and Jacoby Ellbury #22 of the New York Yankees run towards the dugout in the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 27, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 27: Aaron Hicks #31 and Jacoby Ellbury #22 of the New York Yankees run towards the dugout in the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 27, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 07: Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 07: Xander Bogaerts

Shortstop

The numbers for Didi Gregorius are MVP worthy.  The numbers are insane in the early going and Gregorius is no slouch on defense. For Boston, Xander Bogaerts has been hot, but also on the DL for an extended period. Bogaerts is back to his Silver Slugger years, but Gregorius is having something special.

The Bogaerts injury may have set him back, but big things were expected this season especially with the long ball. Based on the early results it may have been an unfortunate wrist injury that caused average and power to plummet in 2017. Can Bogaerts be the best in the AL at short? If he hits 40 out with 120 RBI and that will not happen. Maybe a six pack of grand slams?

Defensively Bogaerts is best described as an average player.  That has been evident throughout his MLB career so any expectations of a significant defensive edge are fantasy.  Gregorius is not flashy, but a smooth shortstop who may not be Francisco Lindor, but is not that far behind. This is – to me – the best player on the Yankees.

April Edge: Yankees

Season End Prediction: Yankees with a possible MVP shortstop.

Schedule