Red Sox at Yankees (Game 1)
The Boston Red Sox are enduring their first five-game slide since July of 2015 and are showing no signs that they are ready to dig out of the hole and get back into the postseason race. The Red Sox will try to stop the skid and knock a couple games off their deficit in the American League East when they visit the New York Yankees for a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.
Boston bashed its way to three wins over New York last weekend to get the hopes of its fans up but lost the finale of that four-game series on Sunday and was swept in a three-game series by the Tampa Bay Rays before watching a fifth straight starting pitcher get off to a rocky start in Friday's 4-2 setback. The loss dropped the Red Sox 11 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East but, more importantly, pushed them four games behind the Rays, who are currently occupying the second wild card spot in the AL. New York got a first-inning grand slam from Gleyber Torres on Friday and leaned on the pitching the rest of the way as its staff slowly begins to turn things around following a couple rough turns through the rotation. The Yankees will turn to Domingo German against Boston ace Chris Sale in the first game on Saturday before using an opener against Red Sox lefty Brian Johnson in the nightcap.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, NESN (Boston), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (5-10, 4.26 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Domingo German (13-2, 4.08)
Boston's issues this season are due in large part to the starting rotation not performing at the same level it did last season, and perennial Cy Young candidate Sale is one of the more inconsistent starters. The Florida native allowed a total of two runs in back-to-back wins before starting against the Yankees at home on Sunday and getting rocked for six runs on five hits - two homers - and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. Sale surrendered totals of 11 home runs and 34 walks in 158 innings last season but is up to 20 homers and 35 free passes over 129 frames in 2019.
German got the better of Sale at Fenway Park on Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings while matching a season high with nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old served up a total of six home runs in 15 innings over his last three starts but got 29 runs of support from his offense in that span and last absorbed a loss on June 7. German started at home against Boston on June 1 and only lasted 3 2/3 frames, yielding three runs and six hits - one homer - without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox placed LHP David Price on the paternity list Friday but expect him back to start the finale on Sunday.
2. Yankees SS Didi Gregorius (hand, finger) sat out Friday and is day-to-day.
3. New York C Gary Sanchez (groin) is eligible to come off the IL on Saturday but will need a few more days.