The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will kick off the second half of the MLB season when they meet tonight in the Bronx in Game 1 of a 4-game set. This is a critical series for the Yanks, who trail Boston by 8 games, and they know it. Boston has won all 6 meetings with New York this year but it appears the Yanks have turned things around. Going into the break, they took 2 of 3 from the Mariners and, if not for a total meltdown in the 9th against Houston, they would have swept the Astros. Boston on the other hand stumbled into the break, losing two in row and 4 of their last 5. The Red Sox are expected to send lefty Eduardo Rodríguez to the hill and he has been average at best. Rodríguez is 6-5 with an elevated ERA of 5.52, a 1.37 WHIP, and was not sharp in his last turn, surrendering 9 hits and 4 runs in 5 innings of work resulting in a 4-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees have not released their starter for tonight but it will probably be southpaw Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery has not brought the house down, at 3-4, with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but is an Impressive 11-6 in his career at Yankee Stadium with an ERA of 3.36 and a 1.17 WHIP. New York is 6-2 in their last 8 against a left-handed starter and although the Red Sox have owned the Yanks of late, trends end.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES
UPDATE: It is confirmed that Domingo Germán, 4-5 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, will get the start for the Yankees which means this could possibly be a bullpen game for the Bombers. The pick hasn’t changed.