The Yankees (70-48) enter this series with a six-game division lead over Baltimore and sporting the AL's best record after taking three of four from West leader Texas, though they fell 10-6 in Thursday's finale. Ichiro Suzuki went 3 for 3 and Andruw Jones had a two-run homer, but New York failed to complete the sweep and suffered its second loss in nine games.
Perfect they're not, but the Red Sox (58-61) would gladly trade places with New York right now. Boston is 3-4 on its current road trip after avoiding a sweep with a 6-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday, has dropped 16 of 26 and is three games below .500 at its latest point in a season since 1997 - the last time the Red Sox finished with a losing record.
The Yankees' two most recent losses prior to Thursday were charged to Phil Hughes (11-10, 4.44 ERA), whose turn comes up again Friday. The right-hander failed to make it out of the fifth inning of either of those outings.
Hughes matched a season high with seven runs allowed in four innings of Sunday's 10-7 defeat at Toronto. He may benefit from a return home, where he's 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts. One of those wins was a 10-3 triumph over Boston on July 27, when he gave up three runs - all on solo homers to Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia and Jarrod Saltalamacchia - over seven innings.
After the Red Sox got eight strong innings from Clay Buchholz in Thursday's victory, they'll give the ball to Franklin Morales (3-3, 3.29) for the series opener in the Bronx.
The left-hander's worst start of the season came against the Yankees on July 7, when he surrendered six runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 6-1 defeat. Morales has given up seven home runs in 2012, and four came in that contest alone - two by Jones, one by Nick Swisher and one by Jayson Nix.
That outing came at Fenway Park, though, and Morales has been much better on the road. He has a 1.86 ERA in 16 appearances - four starts - away from Boston, including two hitless innings of relief at Yankee Stadium on July 27.
The Red Sox dropped that contest 10-3. Boston went on to win the final two games of that series, but New York has taken six of nine meetings in the 2012 edition of this rivalry, averaging 7.4 runs per contest while swatting 23 home runs.
Swisher is 11 for 26 (.423) with three homers, three doubles and 12 RBIs versus Boston this season.
NOTE: Ian Kinsler and RF Nelson Cruz did not play last night so they could rest. (That's good news)
Red Sox are 4-11 in their last 15 games as a road underdog.
Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.
Red Sox are 1-6 in their last 7 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.Yankees are 5-0 in their last 5 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Yankees are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Yankees are 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
Yankees are 4-0 in Hughes' last 4 Friday starts.
Yankees are 5-1 in Hughes' last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Hughes is not the greatest pitcher but plenty good enough to help NY win today. Besides, by the end of the 3rd inning Boston will have their bullpen warming up. Don't be surprised if Morales get pulled early. He does however have a lot better 3 game average than Hughes but Boston is doing all they can to hang on right now. Nothing changes today....more mediocre baseball from them....more hard-hitting, fast-paced offense from NY. Take the Yankees ML and RL. Yankees roll today. Good Luck
I got -133 last night and most book at past that. Right now BetHorizen has -128, Heritage has -128, and Pinnacle has -133. Several at -135
NY YANKEES -133
NY YANKEES -1½+140
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