Yankees at Red Sox
The New York Yankees arrived in Boston owning the best record in the majors and holding a commanding lead in the American League East, but there are plenty of reasons for alarm -- namely a starting rotation that is in shambles. New York looks to veteran CC Sabathia to provide a solid outing in the third of a four-game series versus the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.
The Yankees have been mauled by a combined 29-8 in the first two games against Boston and set a dubious franchise record by giving up 64 runs over their last six contests. Austin Romine collected three hits and two RBIs in Friday's 10-5 setback for New York, which has seen its starting rotation post an exorbitant 17.86 ERA over the last half-dozen games. Reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts led the offensive assault for the Red Sox in Friday's romp, leaving the park three times and adding an RBI double to become the first player in history with four three-homer games out of the leadoff spot. Rafael Devers continued his drive for this year's MVP award by collecting three more hits and notching his major league-leading 32nd RBI in July as Boston won for the fourth time in five games.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSI, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (5-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (12-4, 4.10)
Sabathia is coming off a rocky outing at Minnesota on Monday in which he served up four home runs and was charged with seven runs (six earned) on six hits over four innings. That ended a streak of four consecutive starts -- three against Tampa Bay -- for the 39-year-old, who went 2-0 and permitted nine runs and 20 hits over 25 innings in that span. Betts is 12-for-31 against Sabathia, who took the loss versus Boston on June 2 despite six innings of three-run ball.
Rodriguez won his sixth consecutive decision with a superb effort at Tampa Bay last time out, limiting the Rays to two hits over seven scoreless innings to improve to 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA in July. Unbeaten in his last eight outings, the 26-year-old Venezuelan did not factor in the decision versus the Yankees on June 30 after giving up a pair of runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Rodriguez has held Aaron Judge to 1-for-12 but has struggled against Didi Gregorius (11-for-35).
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston has scored at least eight runs in five straight games versus New York for the first time in their storied rivalry.
2. Yankees CF Mike Tauchman is 12-for-23 during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez homered and tripled to extend his multiple-hit streak to five games.