So, who had the Yankees and Red Sox being a combined eight games under .500 when they met for the first time this season? Not me, certainly. The Yankees are 6-9 and the Red Sox are 6-11. This is the first time the Yankees and Red Sox have met with sub-.500 records this deep into the season (at least 15 games) since 1992. Neither team’s season has gone according to plan.
“I don’t really get caught up in what (the rivalry) means. I certainly understand it. I’m doing everything I can to get us in the right place to go out and get a W,” Aaron Boone said this afternoon. “… I know we’re up against a good team that’s off to a tough start, similar to us. We know what they’re capable of and we know we have to play well to beat them.”
There would be no better way to snap out of this early-season slump than a quick little two-game sweep over an AL East rival. That applies to both teams. The Yankees want to keep burying the Red Sox and start climbing up the standings. You know Boston wants to do the same. One game at a time though. Gotta win the first one before you can win both. Here are tonight’s lineups:
New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. RF Aaron Judge
3. 1B Luke Voit
4. SS Gleyber Torres
5. DH Clint Frazier
6. 3B Gio Urshela
7. CF Brett Gardner
8. C Austin Romine
9. LF Mike Tauchman
LHP James Paxton
Boston Red Sox
1. RF Mookie Betts
2. SS Xander Bogaerts
3. LF J.D. Martinez
4. DH Steve Pearce
5. 1B Mitch Moreland
6. 2B Eduardo Nunez
7. 3B Rafael Devers
8. C Sandy Leon
9. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
LHP Chris Sale
It has been a beautiful day in New York. A little on the chilly side, but the sky is clear. It won’t last. There is rain in the forecast later tonight, around 11pm ET or so. Hopefully the game is over before the rain starts. Tonight’s game will begin at 6:35pm ET and you can watch on WPIX locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the ballgame.
Injury Updates: In case you missed it earlier, Greg Bird has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a torn plantar fascia. He will be in a walking boot for two weeks, then be reevaluated. The Yankees expect him to miss at least a month. Saturday was the first time it really became a problem, apparently … Aaron Hicks (back) will remain with the Yankees through the end of the homestand before heading back to Tampa. He feels 100% and did more running, throwing, and hitting today. He’s a day or two away from taking batting practice … Miguel Andujar (shoulder) has increased his hitting and throwing. He’s still early in the process and they aren’t much closer to answering the “surgery or no surgery?” question than they were two weeks ago … Dellin Betances (shoulder) is no longer stuck in Tampa. He’s with the Yankees in New York. Nothing new to report though. He’s still early in the shutdown phase following last week’s cortisone shot … Troy Tulowitzki (calf) hit in the cage and did some running on the field today. It’s the first time he’s done any real baseball activities since landing on the injured list.