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

By Rick McNair

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 05: Mookie Betts
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 05: Mookie Betts /

Outfield

Both teams have exceptional right fielders that certainly weighs on the statistics.   Aaron Judge would win a Gold Glove if Mookie Betts played elsewhere on the diamond. Judge is a very underrated defensive player. Both Betts and Judge are offensive machines and the linchpins of their outfield. The Red Sox and Yankees are ranked first and second at the end of April based on fWAR.

Defensively New York has +6 DRS and Boston is a flat zero. Jackie Bradley is at a -2.5 UZR and that is behind both Brett Gardner (0.4 UZR) and Aaron Hicks (0.2 UZR). JBJ is defensively superior to both and my assumption is the small early season sample is an impact as J.D. Martinez (+0.3 UZR) and Andrew Benintendi (-0.5 UZR) statistically outperform Bradley.  My eyes tell me a different story.

The fall off after Betts and Judge are apparent in the offense.  Bradley is barely above .200 and Gardner is in the same situation.  Hicks had some surprising punch in 2017, but this is 2018. Benintendi has started slow, but even that is well above the others mentioned.

April Edge: Red Sox

Season End Prediction: Red Sox with Benintendi getting close to 30/30.

Next: Designated Hitter

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