Yankees vs. Red Sox MLB Picks and Predictions

Here we go. As the MLB season heads toward the final week, there is still business that needs to be settled, including the American League Wild Cards. Three AL East teams are battling for two spots. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are two of them, and they’ll play each other in the sport’s best rivalry, entering the showdown separated by two games.

Let's see the MLB odds.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Friday, September 24, 2021 - 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park

Here We Go

The MLB regular season heads into its final week on Monday, but before then, we get treated to an epic weekend showdown.

One of the pieces of business that needs to be settled in the final 10 days of the season is determining the two American League Wild Cards. Three teams from the AL East are battling for the two spots, separated by a total of three games.

The Boston Red Sox are in the top spot heading into Friday’s action, two games ahead of their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, who are holding onto the second berth. Both teams have had incredible hot streaks, as well as losing skids that had each team declared dead at multiple points this year.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays lurk just outside, a game behind the Yankees. As if the sport’s biggest rivalry needed any more urgency, the Yankees and Sox clash this weekend, trying to lock up a playoff spot.

https://youtu.be/29ZdeKkzE10?t=412

Streaky Yankees

The Yankees have had an up-and-down season. Early on, they struggled on offense and the basepaths and looked headed for a thorough house cleaning over the winter after an underachieving season. Then the team put things together in August, ending the month with a 13-game winning streak. Immediately after that ended, New York lost 11 of the next 13 and fell out of the playoff positioning.

The team has turned the ship around again, winning eight of the last 12 games, including three straight. Those eight wins came against the Mets, Twins, Orioles, Cleveland and Texas. What do those teams have in common? They’re all under .500, many of them far below that break-even mark.

The Yankees are done playing losing teams this season, however, closing out the year with a 44-27, .620 record against them. They’re just two games over .500 against winning teams and now close with the Sox, Blue Jays and first-place Rays.

“This is who we’re up against, fighting for the same thing,” manager Aaron Boone said. “You should want it no other way. We’re gonna find out (who’s the best). When you’re fighting for a couple spots (among) a few teams, the fact you get to settle it mano a mano on the field, that’s the way it should be. Hopefully we get where we want to go by playing good baseball.”

Things get started on Friday with the Yankees’ ace on the mound. Gerrit Cole is 15-8, 3.03 on the year. He’s lost both starts he’s made at Fenway Park, however, posting a 7.20 ERA.

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts against the Los Angeles Angels on September 01, 2021. Michael Owens/Getty Images/AFP

Looking to Wrap Up a Bid

The Red Sox have won seven straight games to put themselves in good position entering the final run. Boston also has the advantage in remaining schedule, facing the lowly Nationals and Orioles after the Yankees leave town, while the other AL East contenders battle each other.

Boston has already clinched the season series over the Yankees, going 10-6 head-to-head. The Sox dominated their rivals early, winning the first seven games against New York, winning by an average of five runs a game. The Yankees have won six of the last nine, however.

Boston has also won six of the seven games against New York at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have gotten permission to wear their yellow jerseys for Friday’s game. Originally introduced as a way of honoring the Boston Marathon, the team has continued wearing them, because they’ve won five straight while wearing them. They plan to wear them until they lose.

“I mean, we're not superstitious, we just love routines,” manager Alex Cora said. “And it just happens that, you know, 6 o'clock those uniforms are there so it's part of our routine right now.”

Boston will start Nathan Eovaldi on Friday. He’s 10-8, 3.58 on the year.

The Pick

The Yankees have not been able to solve Fenway Park or any of the AL East contenders this year. While they’re currently in possession of a Wild Card spot, it’ll be a tough run to hold onto it. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are hitting on all cylinders. For your MLB picks, look for Boston to beat Cole and the Yankees and deal New York’s playoff hopes a blow.

MLB Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.