Yankees vs Red Sox Odds: Classic Rivalry Resumes at Fenway Park

We start our Yankees vs Red Sox betting preview with a look at the game one opening odds. We think this is an even match-up and the bookmakers agree with the number starting at -105 each way, with a total of 9.5 (over -115/-105).

The teams squared off last weekend at Yankee Stadium, with Boston taking two of three from the Bronx Bombers.

What should you know about this latest MLB matchup? Let’s break down the Yankees vs Red Sox odds.

Yankees Getting Healthier

Outfielder Harrison Bader is expected to return for Friday’s series opener, giving the Yankees‘ lineup a much-needed boost. Bader has been on the Injured List since May 30 with a strained right hamstring.

Bader commenced a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, going 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in a 5-4 win over Altoona.

Bader dealt with an oblique injury in spring training and missed the first month of the season. In between his time on the IL, the 29-year-old Bader hit .267 with six home runs and 19 RBI while offering Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. He also stole six bases.

In his absence, Greg Allen, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Billy McKinney split time in center field.

The Yankees are still waiting on their biggest bat, Aaron Judge. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player is on the IL with a sprained toe, with no timetable for his return. Judge is batting .291 with 19 home runs and 40 RBI. He also leads baseball with a 1.078 OPS. Keep that in mind as you assess the Yankees vs Red Sox odds.

Devers Tops the Board

In addition to homering 17 times, Boston third baseman Rafael Devers has driven in an MLB-best 55 runs.

Devers homered twice and drove in four runs in Tuesday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to Colorado. He overtook Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez (54 RBI), who is on the IL with an oblique strain.

Over the last nine games, Devers is hitting .286 with four home runs and seven RBI, posting a .999 OPS. He was given a day off Wednesday, as Boston beat the Rockies 6-3 to avoid a three-game sweep on the MLB schedule.

Despite Devers’ strong start, Boston is sitting in last place in the AL East at 34-35, 14 games behind first-place Tampa Bay. The Red Sox are currently the only MLB team in the division with a losing record.

Japanese rookie Masataka Yoshida is second on Boston with 33 RBI. He’s also hitting a team-leading .297.

Big-Picture Odds

Oddsmakers remain bullish on the Yankees despite Judge’s injury. The Yankees are priced at +650 to win the American League, sharing the third-best odds on the board with Texas. Tampa Bay is currently a +275 favorite, followed by Houston at +350.

Additionally, New York is a +1100 pick to win the World Series. Only four clubs have better odds: Atlanta and Tampa Bay at +550, the Dodgers (+600) and Houston (+700).

Game 1

• Tanner Houck vs Domingo German (Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET)

German outdueled Houck in New York’s 3-1 win on June 10, holding Boston to one run over six innings. Solo homers by Gleyber Torres and Willie Calhoun made the difference. German improved to 4-3 with a 3.49 ERA, while Houck dropped to 3-6 with a 5.23 ERA.

Boston is -1.5 (+170) on the run line and a slight -105 favorite to win outright, per the Yankees vs Red Sox odds. The projected total is 10.

Game 2

• Brayan Bello vs Clarke Schmidt (Saturday, 7:10 p.m. ET)

The 24-year-old Bello turned in a 2.67 ERA in May and has a 3.78 ERA for the season. He limited the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in a 3-2, 10-inning win on June 11. Schmidt gave up only run one in 5.1 innings, with the lone damage coming on a Justin Turner homer.

Game 3

• James Paxton vs Luis Severino (Sunday, 7:10 p.m. ET)

Paxton has been solid since returning from the IL on May 12, registering a 3.09 ERA in six starts. The 34-year-old left-hander has struck out 44 over 32 innings. Meanwhile, Severino has been hit hard this month, allowing 16 runs over his last 13.2 innings (10.54 ERA). He’s been tagged for seven homers during that span.

For MLB playoff odds, analysis and more, visit pointspreads.com

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