One area the Yankees have dominated this season is beating teams with a record at or over .500. They are 24-9 in such games. As for the Sox, they are 16-13 against teams at or above .500.
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Although that’s not an awful mark, the Yankees have made a surge by beating the tougher teams. However, the Sox have their chance coming up to prove they can win series against playoff caliber teams.
That task starts Tuesday night with a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels. After that comes three games in New York on Friday-Sunday. Then finally, the Sox travel to D.C. to take on the Nationals. Over the next nine games, it’s ideal, almost vital, for the Sox to go 6-3. That will hopefully mean they go 2-1 in each series. That would show balance and the ability to win series against tough teams.
The biggest series of the three is fairly obvious. When the Sox travel to New York both teams will be looking to separate themselves from one another. The Sox will have to stay clean in the field, pitch lights out, and give run support to take the series. In other words, play near perfect. Taking the series against the Yankees will certainly silence doubters. Taking all three series over the next nine games will definitely silence doubters.
However, this is something the Sox must do for the remainder of the season to beat out the Yankees. The next nine games will be a testament to what’s to come.
These are three key areas for the Red Sox to hone in on to beat out the Yankees over the second half of the season. Again, the division race will be tight all season. In my personal opinion, I believe the division will be decided on game 162. However, these three keys will definitely put the Red Sox in a spot to beat out the Yankees.