ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Preview: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
July 7, 2012 · Jeff Grant · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees (51-33) and Boston Red Sox (43-42) are scheduled to play the last baseball game before the All-Star break, as the two teams close out a four-game American League East series at Fenway Park on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
The Yankees were sent out as plus-108 road underdogs in the MLB betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 10, but faces downward pressure in the market.
New York has won two of the first three games in this series, with the two teams splitting a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The Yankees captured a 6-1 victory in the afternoon contest, before suffering a 9-5 setback in the nightcap.
Ivan Nova (9-3, 4.05 ERA) has led the Yankees to 12 wins in his 16 starts this season, but comes off a 7-4 road defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays last time out. He allowed six runs (three earned) and seven hits in six frames in that effort.
The right-hander has tallied a 1-2 record and 5.70 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) versus the Red Sox, allowing four earned runs in three of those outings. Nova is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three outings (two starts) at this ballpark.
Sports bettors will find that the Bronx Bombers are 7-2 in his last nine starts as a road underdog, with the “under” going 5-2 in that situation.
There’s no question that Boston needs this game a lot more than New York, as the club is 8.5 games back in the divisional race. It’s important to note that the all-time series is tied at 460-460-4 when matching up in Beantown.
Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester (5-5, 4.33 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and losses over his last five outings, as he’s managed to go 5-3 with a 3.86 ERA over his last 13 outings. The left-hander has registered a disappointing 2-3 record and 5.60 ERA in nine home starts.
In 17 career starts versus the Yankees, Lester has gone 8-3 with a 4.15 ERA, including a 2-1 mark and 4.76 ERA in seven home appearances in the series.
Sunday’s host may be 26-12 in its last 38 Sunday contests, but the team has also dropped eight of nine against divisional foes with its ace on the hill.
Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-70s, with a 5-to-10 mph breeze out of the northwest (left to right).
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