These are been two of the best offensive teams in the league when facing left-handers, but it’s a new season now. Max Fried owns a 2.37 home ERA and have faced Boston for 18.1 innings this season, allowing four earned runs. Garrett Crochet has pitched his best on the road, 2.25 ERA, but when facing the Yankees this season he’s allowed 10 earned runs and five home runs. Boston, statistically, has the better bullpen, but New York has been in better overall form ending the season while also winning seven of Fried’s last eight starts.
Bosox starter Garrett Crochet is .a worrying prospecs for the Yankees in Game One of this highly-charged wild card matchup. The Sox have won the last seven starts made by Crochet, who twice in his last four starts didn't allow a run (Sept. 24 vs. Jays, Sept. 8 vs. A's). In his last two starts vs. the Bronx Bombers, the Bosox have also won as Crochet spun 15 1/3 innings of nine-hit, two-run ball, good for a 1.17 ERA Now, the Yanks have won the last six starts made by Max Fried, who won an MLB-best 19 games this season, so margins are tight here, but the Crochet factor looms large for the Sox whenever he takes the mound. Play Red Sox on Money Line
The Yankees lost eight of their first nine meetings with the Red Sox this season, but finished strong, winning three of their last four. They come in with an eight-game winning streak to close out the season. Everybody started hitting towards the end of the year, including Giancarlo Stanton, who had 17 RBIs in his last 12 games, and the team hit .281, the second-best in baseball. They also got some great pitching down the stretch by tonight's starter, Max Fried, who went 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his last seven starts. The wind is blowing in from left field at 10 mph, and I expect the two All-Star starters to push, but the Yankees bullpen wins it. Yankees to win.
The top two pitchers in MLB in terms of wins are on the mound today for game one with Max Fried and Garrett Crochet. Pressure is on Fried to uphold the Yankees current eight game win streak. A player I expect to give Fried and the Yankees bullpen problems is Ceddanne Rafaela. Rafaela has had a hit in eight out of his last nine games, with four doubles. Take Rafaela over on his total bases prop.
You have to figure Paul Goldschmidt will start over Ben Rice given his experience and defensive advantage. Goldschmidt has notoriously been good against left-handed pitchers, but he has struggled over the last month plus. According to Katie Sharp, since August 7th Goldschmidt is just 7-48 with one extra base hit against LHPs. Goldschmidt is also just 2-15 with two singles in his career against Garrett Crochet. Goldschmidt is 17-3 on the under in his last 20 games.
Bennett (7-5) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were downed 7-3 by the A's. He struck out five.
Lombard went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over Atlanta.
Cole (6-5) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-4 victory over Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
Rodon (elbow) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four in his first rehab outing against Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Boston optioned Burgos to Triple-A Worcester after Saturday's matchup with the Athletics, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said that Abreu (calf) is doing better after receiving treatment on Saturday and is "hopeful" to play Sunday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Duran will start in left field and bat eighth Saturday against the Athletics.
Abreu was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.
Contreras (illness) will start at first base and bat fourth against the Athletics on Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Durbin went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 13-1 win over the Athletics.
