The only team ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card standings is their arch rival, the New York Yankees. The two clubs will meet for four games, including a Saturday doubleheader, from August 28-30 in a battle for the top spot.
Elite pitching has been a trademark of Boston and New York's seasons. The Yankees have the best team ERA in the league at 3.20 and the Red Sox aren't far behind with a 3.51 ERA in the third spot. Boston's pitching has stalled a bit due to injuries in the bullpen and exhaustion in the rotation, and the starters for the Yankees series aren't set because of it.
Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle and Sonny Gray are set to pitch during the series, which is a great sign. Suarez and Gray are the Sox's two most experienced arms, and the latter is up near Cam Schlittler on the list of AL Cy Young Award favorites (though not high enough, if Sox fans have anything to say about it).
Tolle has also been hot lately, despite being a rookie with a lot of miles on his arm this season. He has a 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 25 innings across his last four outings. He also fanned seven Yankees and only allowed one hit the last time he matched up against them on June 26.
Red Sox's rotation for upcoming series against Yankees isn't 100 percent set, with possibility of Brayan Bello bulk day
But the Sox play four games this weekend, and three starters won't cut it. Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports that Chad Tracy mentioned the possibility of Alec Gamboa opening for Brayan Bello in a bulk role, but that arrangement would be dependent on the team's bullpen use the series before against the Miami Marlins (subscription required).
Getting Bello into the Yankees series would be ideal for Boston. Not only is the righty the best reliever in the league with an ERA and WHIP of 0.85 over 52.2 innings of work, but he's had great success against New York in the past. He's logged a 2.35 ERA and 1.139 WHIP across 11 starts against the Yankees.
The Red Sox will get quite lucky against the Yankees, as they're not facing the top of their rotation unless they shuffle it before the series. Gerrit Cole (3.11 ERA in 92.2 innings) will miss the Sox, as he's pitching the final game of the Yankees series against the Houston Astros. Ryan Weathers (3.60 ERA in 137.1 innings) was placed on the injured list on August 23 and Schlittler (2.16 ERA in 158 innings) will likely pitch against Houston, given that his last outing was on August 21.
Boston could have its absolute best arms going against the Yankees if it plays its cards right. The offense needs to show up in Miami to keep the bullpen in good enough shape to get Bello a bulk day in the Bronx.
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