Red Sox: Nathan Eovaldi vs Gerrit Cole battle could determine Cy Young race
By Sean Penney
Red Sox have the edge in this matchup
Barring a collapse by either pitcher, this should be a two-man race between Eovaldi and Cole, which raises the stakes for Friday night’s head-to-head meeting.
Nasty Nate has faced the Yankees five times already this year and he’s been outstanding under the pressure of this intense rivalry. Eovaldi owns a 2.01 ERA with 34 strikeouts and only two walks in 31 1/3 innings against the Bronx Bombers this season. He’s also done his best work at home where he’s 6-3 with a 2.99 ERA.
Cole hasn’t found nearly as much success in this matchup, going 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season. He surrendered eight earned runs over 10 innings between his two starts at Fenway, taking the loss both times.
The task won’t be any easier for Cole this time as he returns to Boston to face a scorching hot Red Sox team riding a seven-game winning streak in which they have scored 6+ runs in each game. Cole was roughed up for seven earned runs in his last start against Cleveland. A pitcher of Cole’s caliber is capable of shutting down any lineup but the momentum is in Boston’s favor.