Normally, a September weekend series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Sox would get at least the Saturday and Sunday games on national television, with the Sunday game coming in the evening on ESPN. This year, though, neither team is leading the American League East — and the Yankees have had to fend off the Toronto Blue Jays just to hold onto second place in the division. Boston, meanwhile, has started winning more lately but is still sitting at 18-32, 13 ½ games behind Tampa Bay (and 10 ½ games behind the Yankees), mostly thanks to a shredded starting rotation.
Can the Red Sox play the spoiler this weekend, or will the Yankees (winners of seven of their last 10 games) keep up their winning ways?
Don’t miss our MLB betting thoughts on the series.
MLB Game Betting: September 18-20
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Game Details
Friday, September 18, 2020, 7:30 pm ET
Saturday, September 19, 2020, 7:30 pm ET
Sunday, September 20, 2020, 1:07 pm ET
Fenway Park, Boston
WFAN 660 AM (New York City) / WEEI 93.7 FM (Boston)
Probable Pitchers for the Game
Fri: Jordan Montgomery (2-2, 4.76 ERA) (NY) vs Martin Perez (3-4, 4.33 ERA) (BOS)
Sat: J.A. Happ (1-2, 3.96 ERA) (NY) vs Undecided (BOS)
Sun: Deivi Garcia (2-1, 3.28 ERA) (NY) vs Tanner Houck (1-0, 0.00 ERA) (BOS)
Yankees vs Red Sox | Check the MLB Odds
Who should you Pick in Friday’s game?
Jordan Montgomery’s last two starts for the Yankees have shown improvement. On September 7, he went just 3 ⅓ innings but only permitted two runs on six hits. On Saturday, he looked downright terrific against the Baltimore Orioles, throwing 5 ⅔ innings while permitting just one run on three hits, striking out a season-high nine while walking just one. If Montgomery has finally found his groove, then the Yankees may actually have a postseason-worthy rotation.
Martin Perez has also hovered around the edges of respectability this season. He is alternating between solid starts and shaky ones; in his last five starts, he has three starts in which he has permitted just four earned runs combined over 18 ⅔ innings. However, in his other two starts, he has allowed 10 runs in nine innings. If the pattern holds, this will be a start when the Yankees light him up.
Final Score Prediction:
New York 7, Boston 4 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Saturday’s game?
J.A. Happ has also given the Yankees strong starting pitching. In his last two starts, against Toronto and Baltimore, he has thrown 11 ⅓ innings combined, allowing three runs on nine hits (including a pair of home runs) while striking out 15 and walking just two. He’s rounding into shape at just the right time, with the postseason just around the corner.
Boston has not yet named a starter for Saturday, as they continue to juggle their rotation. Given how well Happ has pitched this season — and given how many times the stopgap starters have been shelled for Boston — I’m taking the Yankees here, but I’m not locking in a bet until the Sox pick a starter, or at least an opener.
Final Score Prediction:
New York 6, Boston 3 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Sunday’s game?
Deivi Garcia got off to an impressive start when he joined the Yankee rotation, but teams have started to figure him out. In his last three starts, first against the Orioles and then with two against the Blue Jays, he has thrown a solid 18 ⅔ combined innings, but he’s given up four home runs, allowing 9 earned runs on 16 hits along the way. He’s struck out 18 while walking just four in those starts, but if Boston can put bats on balls, Garcia could get an early hook.
Tanner Houck made his MLB debut on September 15 against the Marlins. He went five innings, scattering a pair of hits and striking out seven while walking three. Frequently, pitchers dominate in their debuts but then unravel a bit as teams get more film on them. However, Houck showed terrific stuff against Miami and could frustrate the Yankee hitters.
Final Score Prediction:
Boston 5, New York 3 | Check the Odds
AL East MLB Standings
| AL EAST | W-L | PCT | GB | HOME | AWAY | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rays | 31-18 | .633 | – | 17-9 | 14-9 | L1 |
| 2 | Yankees | 28-21 | .571 | 3.0 | 20-7 | 8-14 | W7 |
| 3 | Blue Jays | 26-22 | .542 | 4.5 | 12-7 | 14-15 | L2 |
| 4 | Orioles | 22-27 | .449 | 9.0 | 12-16 | 10-11 | W1 |
| 5 | Red Sox | 18-32 | .360 | 13.5 | 8-17 | 10-15 | L1 |
