Friday MLB Odds Preview: Red Sox vs. Rival
The red-hot Boston Red Sox get a chance to pad their lead in the AL East and take a piece off their biggest rival Friday night when they begin a three-game series with the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
The Red Sox head into Friday night having won eight straight games. At the Bovada Sportsbook they were favored in seven of them. The Yankees are in action Thursday night and have won three of their last four games.
On Friday Boston will hand the ball to lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 4.08), while Jaime Garcia (5-8, 4.49) will get his second start in a Yankees uniform.
Rodriguez recorded a no-decision in his last start after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings versus the Chicago White Sox. He hasn’t faced the Yankees this season, but he’s had success against them in his career with a 4-1 record and a 2.66 ERA in seven starts.
Garcia made his Yankees debut last time out against the Cleveland Indians and took the loss after giving up six runs on five hits in 4 2-3 innings. Garcia has never faced the Red Sox in his career and after spending almost his entire career in the NL this will also be his first start at Yankee Stadium.
In nine matchups between New York and Boston this season the Yankees hold the edge with six wins. New York took two of three from Boston in New York earlier this season and they’re also 6-1 in their last seven home games against the Red Sox.
In Arizona on Friday night two pitchers trending in opposite directions square off when the Diamondbacks play host to the Chicago Cubs.
Veteran John Lackey (9-9, 4.81) gets the call for Chicago and Taijuan Walker (6-5, 3.60) is in line to go for Arizona.
Lackey has won his last four starts and last time out beat the Washington Nationals after allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. He hasn’t faced Arizona this season but sports a perfect 4-0 record and 2.76 ERA in five career starts against them.
The Diamondbacks have posted a loss in Walker’s last five starts and he hasn’t recorded a win since June 21. He last faced the San Francisco Giants and came away with a no-decision after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. This would be Walker’s first career start against the Cubs.
Earlier this season Arizona took two of three from the Cubs in Chicago, but Chicago has held the edge in the matchup in recent years. In their last 13 games against Arizona the Cubs are 9-4.