Red Sox vs Yankees Preview, Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [8/31/17]

Boston (76-57) at NY Yankees (70-62)
When: Thursday, August 31st 2017
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: New York -120/9

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The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees were in a tight race to begin the week, but after a couple of sweeps have these teams heading away from each other as we reach the last day of August. After Sunday’s action, the Yankees had cut the Red Sox lead in the AL East down to 2.5 games, but New York was swept badly at home to the AL Central-leading Indians while the Red Sox took care of the Blue Jays in Toronto. New York is now 5.5 games back as they host the opener of a four-game set beginning Thursday night. Hanley Ramirez homered for the second straight day in Wednesday’s 7-1 rout of Toronto as the Red Sox outscored the Blue Jays 16-6 in the series. Ramirez is 6-for-15 with five runs scored during his four-game hitting streak, but is just 2-for-19 in his career versus Thursday starter CC Sabathia. The Yankees were just the opposite against Cleveland, getting outscored 17-7. Brett Gardner, who was 2-for-9 in the Cleveland series, is just 3-for-14 against Thursday starter Eduardo Rodriguez. New York hitters have gone cold including shortstop Didi Gregorius (3-for-27 in his last seven games) and Starlin Castro (hitless in his last eight at-bats). Boston RF Mookie Betts has hit safely in eight of his last nine games overall.

Pitchers: Red Sox – Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 4.19 ERA) | Yankees – CC Sabathia (10-5, 3.82)

Rodriguez is still trying to find his form pre-disabled list. In his eight starts since coming back, he’s 0-2 with a 5.08 ERA and was rocked for five runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings of a 7-0 loss versus Baltimore on Saturday. Rodriguez has fared well at Yankee Stadium, posting a 2-1 mark with a 1.38 ERA in four career starts while scattering two hits over six scoreless innings on August 11th.

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Sabathia has bounced back from a couple of bad starts with two solid ones, including a win at Boston on August 19th. Sabathia received a no-decision in last trip to the mound, however, despite allowing one run on five hits in seven innings against Seattle. His lone run allowed came on a solo shot, marking the sixth homer he has surrendered in his last five starts after keeping the ball in the park in his previous five.

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The Yankees were caught by a red hot Indians squad and maybe looking ahead to this series a bit. I like the pitching matchup in this one and I’ll take New York in the opener.

Pick: Yankees -120

BETTING TRENDS:

  • Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
  • Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Red Sox are 12-5 in their last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Red Sox are 18-8 in their last 26 overall.
  • Red Sox are 2-6 in their last 8 Thursday games.
  • Red Sox are 0-4 in their last 4 games on grass.
  • Red Sox are 10-3 in Rodriguezs last 13 starts with 4 days of rest.
  • Red Sox are 7-3 in Rodriguez’s last 10 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
  • Red Sox are 0-4 in Rodriguez’s last 4 road starts.
  • Red Sox are 0-5 in Rodriguez’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
  • Red Sox are 0-4 in Rodriguez’s last 4 starts vs. American League East.
  • Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
  • Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 games on grass.
  • Yankees are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Yankees are 2-6 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. American League East.
  • Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Yankees are 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 Thursday starts.
  • Yankees are 8-1 in Sabathia’s last 9 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
  • Yankees are 11-2 in Sabathia’s last 13 starts vs. American League East.
  • Yankees are 5-1 in Sabathia’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Yankees are 9-3 in Sabathia’s last 12 home starts.
  • Yankees are 7-3 in Sabathia’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  • Yankees are 37-17 in Sabathia’s last 54 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Yankees are 15-7 in Sabathia’s last 22 starts.
  • Yankees are 50-24 in Sabathia’s last 74 starts during game 1 of a series.
  • Over is 5-0-2 in Red Sox last 7 during game 1 of a series.
  • Under is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Over is 5-2-1 in Red Sox last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 5-2 in Red Sox last 7 vs. American League East.
  • Under is 25-12 in Red Sox last 37 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Over is 3-0-1 in Rodriguez’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 4-1-1 in Rodriguez’s last 6 road starts.
  • Under is 23-7-2 in Rodriguez’s last 32 starts overall.
  • Under is 12-4-1 in Rodriguez’s last 17 starts with 4 days of rest.
  • Under is 21-7-2 in Rodriguez’s last 30 starts on grass.
  • Under is 18-6-2 in Rodriguez’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 18-7-1 in Rodriguez’s last 26 starts vs. American League East.
  • Under is 5-2 in Rodriguez’s last 7 Thursday starts.
  • Under is 7-3-1 in Rodriguez’s last 11 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
  • Over is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
  • Under is 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
  • Under is 11-1 in Sabathia’s last 12 starts on grass.
  • Under is 5-1 in Sabathia’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
  • Under is 22-7-3 in Sabathia’s last 32 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
  • Under is 9-3-1 in Sabathia’s last 13 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 19-7-2 in Sabathia’s last 28 home starts.
  • Over is 8-3 in Sabathia’s last 11 starts during game 1 of a series.
  • Under is 21-8-2 in Sabathia’s last 31 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 21-8-2 in Sabathia’s last 31 starts vs. American League East.
  • Under is 37-17-3 in Sabathia’s last 57 starts overall.
  • Yankees are 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 starts vs. Red Sox.
  • Under is 7-0 in Sabathia’s last 7 home starts vs. Red Sox.
  • Under is 10-1-1 in Sabathia’s last 12 starts vs. Red Sox.
  • Red Sox are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
  • Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 home starts vs. Red Sox.
  • Under is 6-2 in Rodriguez’s last 8 starts vs. Yankees.
  • Red Sox are 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in New York.

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