Boston Red Sox vs  New York Yankees

USA – MLB

The Red Sox remain one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East race. Meanwhile, the Yankees have climbed into sole possession of third place in the division standings after improving to 50-45 through 95 games. New York entered the series riding a four-game winning streak before dropping the series opener 5-4 in Boston on Thursday.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon is scheduled to get the call for the Bronx Bombers on Saturday. In his first season in New York, the 29-year-old is 5-4 with a 4.60 ERA.

Boston will counter with right-handed ace Nathan Eovaldi for the penultimate game of the series on Saturday. The 31-year-old has been a reliable arm at the top of the Red Sox rotation in 2021, going 9-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 19 starts.

• Red Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.

• Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. American League East.
• Yankees are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
• Yankees are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings.

Since coming over to Boston, Eovaldi has had New York’s number and that trend has spilled over into the 2021 campaign as well. The Red Sox ace has posted a 1.44 ERA in three starts against New York this season while allowing no more than one earned run on any of those occasions. Taillon has been pitching well but has struggled with consistency in 2021 and his struggles with the long ball should also give the Red Sox an edge in this matchup.

Take Boston to come out on top at home in this AL East showdown at Fenway Park.