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    Yankees vs. Red Sox AL Wild-Card injuries, odds, pick: JD Martinez injury looms large; Gary Sanchez will come off bench

    The Red Sox could be without All-Star slugger JD Martinez for Tuesday's wild-card game vs. the Yankees.
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    Rather amazingly, the Boston Red Sox have never played in the American League wild-card game. That will change Tuesday night when they host the rival New York Yankees in an epic matchup. The Sox are short underdogs on the Caesars Sportsbook MLB odds and could be without All-Star slugger JD Martinez due to injury. New York manager Aaron Boone, meanwhile, has chosen to start Kyle Higashioka over Gary Sanchez behind the plate. 

    Baseball players seem to suffer the most ridiculous injuries, and Martinez sprained his left ankle in Sunday's regular-season finale at Washington. Nope, Martinez didn't do it running the bases or making a great catch but somehow tripping over second base while running to take his position in right field in the bottom of the fifth inning vs. the Nationals. Martinez usually is a designated hitter but there was no DH in the NL park so he played right field.

    That there obviously will be a DH in Tuesday's game would seem to increase Martinez's chances of playing. It would be a major loss if not as he hit .286 with 28 homers, 99 RBIs and an AL-best 42 doubles this year. Against the Yankees, he hit just .186 with 11 hits in 59 at-bats including two homers.

    The Yankees, meanwhile, will be without infielder and former batting champion DJ LaMahieu as he landed on the injured list over the weekend – he might be ready if the Yanks get to the ALCS. Gio Urshela bruised his thigh and elbow making an awesome catch vs. the Rays on Sunday but is expected to play. Aaron Boone has decided to put Higashioka behind the plate because while he's not the hitter Sanchez is, he has caught most of Gerrit Cole's starts this year.

    Cole (16-8, 3.23) probably will finish second in the AL Cy Young voting and was roughed up in Toronto in his final regular-season outing. He had mixed success vs. Boston this year, going 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four starts (6.19 ERA in three starts at Fenway). In 13 career playoff starts dating to 2013 with Pittsburgh, Cole is 8-4 with a 2.68 ERA.

    Boston counters with Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75). He was excellent in his regular-season finale, shutting out the Orioles on four hits over six. In six starts vs. the Yankees, he was 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA – getting shelled in the most recent outing on Sept. 24 (7 ER allowed in 2.2 innings). Eovaldi's catcher will be Kevin Plawecki over Christian Vazquez. Eovaldi's ERA this year pitching to Plawecki is 3.28 and to Vazquez 4.77. Christian Arroyo likely will start at second base because Jose Iglesias is ineligible for the postseason.

    The Red Sox and Yankees are meeting in the postseason for the fifth time but first in a winner-take-all wild-card matchup. The Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 playoff games vs. the Yankees, after going 4-11 in their first 15. The teams have split two winner-take-all games (2003 & '04 ALCS). Boston is 47-35-1 all-time in postseason matchups at Fenway Park.

    How should you bet on every MLB game? And which teams could cost you your bankroll? Join SportsLine now to see who wins every MLB game, all from the model that simulates every at-bat 10,000 times. 

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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