Ny Yankees Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions September 13th 2024

Yankees Look to Extend Clutch Performances Against Red Sox in Key AL East Matchup

At 7:05 PM ET, the Red Sox and Yankees face off in an AL East matchup. This one is being played at Yankee Stadium in New York, and the Yankees are the heavy favorite on the money line at -148. The Red Sox have a money line payout of +125, and the over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

New York comes into the game with a record of 85-62, while the Red Sox are 74-73 overall. Clarke Schmidt will start for the Yankees, and the Red Sox are going with Tanner Houck. APLTV is carrying this one on TV.

Boston vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Red Sox at Yankees
• Where: Yankee Stadium New York
• Date: Friday, September 13th
• Betting Odds NYY -148 | BOS +125 O/U 8.5

The Red Sox Can Win If…

Tanner Houck gets the start for the Red Sox today as he faces the Yankees on the road. He has made 28 starts this season and has a record of 8-10 with an ERA of 3.24. Looking at his overall numbers, Houck has a WHIP of 1.17 and has turned in 19 quality starts. Houck’s most recent outing came against the Mets, where he took the loss after giving up four earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had a streak of three straight outings without giving up an earned run. Houck has allowed at least one homer in each of his last four outings.

Heading into today’s game, the Red Sox offense is 8th in the league in scoring at 4.7 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. Overall, Boston is 7th in home runs and has the league’s best team BABIP, while also being near the top of the league in team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. One area they have struggled is with strikeouts, as they are 28th in the league in this category.

Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neill have been the top power threats in the Red Sox lineup this season, with Devers leading the team with 28 homers and O’Neill right behind him at 30. Devers also leads the team with 81 RBIs, while O’Neill is 4th at 59. O’Neill has been particularly hot of late, batting .312 over his last nine games with five homers.

• The Red Sox are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Red Sox are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Boston has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Red Sox have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Red Sox are 3-7
• Looking back across the Red Sox last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Boston has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Red Sox have averaged 3.0 runs per game on offense

The Yankees Can Win If…

New York is sending right-hander Clarke Schmidt to the mound today vs. the Red Sox. He has made 12 starts this year and has a record of 5-3 with a 2.34 ERA. So far, Schmidt has turned in two quality starts and is averaging 9.51 strikeouts per nine innings. Schmidt’s last outing came on September 7th, where he went 4 2/3 innings, didn’t allow a run, and finished with a no-decision. He has allowed two earned runs in each of his last three outings. The right-hander has given up a total of six homers this year.

So far this season, the Yankees offense is 2nd in the league in scoring at 5 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are the top home run hitting team in the league and have the league’s best team batting average. New York also does a great job of working the count, as they lead the league in walks.

Yankees fans have to be happy with the way Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been swinging the bat this season. Judge is hitting .319 with 51 homers and 126 RBIs, while Soto is batting .289 with 39 homers and 101 RBIs. However, Soto has struggled at the plate of late, going just 3/21 in his last six games. Gleyber Torres has been hot of late, going 8/26 in his last six games.

• The Yankees are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Yankees are 4-6
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

As the Yankees host the Red Sox today, we are leaning towards the Yankees picking up a win at home. We also have this as our highest projected home run-hitting game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. The Yankees offense has the best team runs scored projection in the league today, and Clarke Schmidt has the 2nd best innings pitched projection among today’s starters.

Yankees Are Thriving in Close Games

The New York Yankees are on a bit of a roll lately, not by overpowering their opponents with big bats, but by stepping up when the stakes are high. Even though their offense has struggled, they’ve managed to pull off some crucial wins, holding strong in the AL East race. Heading into Friday’s matchup against the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees are eyeing their third consecutive win, hoping to widen the gap between them and the chasing Baltimore Orioles.

Recently, the Yankees have been defined by their ability to win when it matters most. Over the last seven games, they’ve gone 5-2, with four of those wins decided by three runs or less. It’s clear they’ve been tough, grinding out victories even though they aren’t lighting up the scoreboard. In fact, the Yankees have only scored more than four runs once during this stretch, yet they’ve still found ways to get the job done.

“Guys are playing really well,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “We haven’t been scoring a lot the past few nights, but we’re doing just enough. I thought we had some good at-bats tonight.”

A huge part of their success has been clutch hitting. Jazz Chisholm Jr. knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning during Wednesday’s 4-3 win against the Kansas City Royals, and Juan Soto followed up with a walk-off single in Thursday’s 2-1 victory against the Red Sox in the 10th inning. These timely hits have kept the Yankees two games ahead of the Orioles, marking their biggest division lead since late August.

Yankees’ Offense Isn’t Flashy, But It’s Effective

While the Yankees are winning, their offense hasn’t exactly been on fire. Over the last two games, they’ve gone 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 17 runners on base. Despite these missed chances, their ability to come through in big moments has been the key. They’re proving that they don’t need to score a ton to pull out victories, as long as they can capitalize when it counts.

Aaron Judge, one of the team’s biggest stars, is in a bit of a funk. Since hitting his 51st home run against the Rockies on August 25, he hasn’t gone yard in 16 straight games, marking the longest home run drought of his career. He’s batting just .207 (12-for-58) over this stretch. Even with Judge cooling off, the team’s depth has helped keep them in the win column, showing they’re more than just a one-man show.

Red Sox Struggling as Playoff Hopes Slip Away

On the flip side, the Red Sox are in a tough spot. After dropping three straight games to the Yankees, they now sit 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. Their offense has been a huge problem, striking out a staggering 50 times in their last four games, a shocking number for a team clinging to playoff hopes.

Thursday’s loss to the Yankees was especially rough, with Boston only managing four hits and striking out 14 times. Rafael Devers, usually a key part of the offense, is going through his own slump. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Thursday and hasn’t homered in 14 games. Over this stretch, Devers is hitting just .167 (9-for-54), a steep drop in production when his team needs him most.

“I’m not going through my best moments right now, but that’s part of baseball,” Devers admitted. “Sometimes you hit a rough patch, and that’s what’s happening to me right now.”

Pitching Showdown: Schmidt vs. Houck

The Yankees will be sending Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.34 ERA) to the mound for his second start since coming back from an injury. After missing 86 games due to a strained lat muscle, Schmidt has returned looking sharp. In his last start, he threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits in a 2-0 win against the Cubs. It’s his third scoreless start of the season. However, his history against the Red Sox has been a mixed bag, with an 0-1 record and a 4.23 ERA in eight career appearances (four starts).

On the Red Sox side, Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24 ERA) will make his first start since September 4 after dealing with a shoulder issue. Houck has struggled since the All-Star break, going 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA over his last nine starts. In his last outing, he gave up four runs on five hits in an 8-3 loss to the Mets. However, Houck has had some success against the Yankees in the past, boasting a 3-3 record with a 2.38 ERA in 14 appearances (nine starts).

Keys to a Yankees Win

To keep things rolling, the Yankees will need to keep coming through in the clutch. While their offense has been inconsistent, big-time hits from guys like Chisholm and Soto have kept them afloat. A big question is whether Aaron Judge can snap out of his slump and bring back the power he’s known for. Judge’s presence in the lineup is vital to the Yankees’ long-term success, and getting him back on track could be a game-changer.

On the pitching side, Clarke Schmidt’s performance will be crucial. If he can put together another strong outing and keep Boston’s offense quiet, the Yankees will be in a great position to lock down a series win.

Red Sox’s Plan to Turn Things Around

For the Red Sox, getting their bats going is the top priority. Their recent strikeout numbers are alarming, and they’ll need more patience and discipline at the plate against Schmidt. Rafael Devers, in particular, needs to break out of his slump if the Red Sox want to make one last push for the playoffs.

Tanner Houck’s health and ability to deliver will also be key. Coming off a shoulder issue, Houck has to prove he can hold the Yankees’ offense in check, especially with Judge and the rest of the lineup eager to break out.

Another Nail-Biter on the Horizon

Friday’s game is shaping up to be another tight one between two teams headed in different directions. The Yankees will be looking to extend their winning streak with clutch hitting and solid pitching, while the Red Sox are desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Given both teams’ offensive struggles, this matchup could very well come down to which pitcher steps up and who can get the big hit when it counts. With the Yankees fighting to stay atop the AL East, every game matters, making this series against Boston a crucial one for their postseason hopes.