NEW YORK – The last time that the Red Sox and Yankees met, baseball’s oldest rivalry seemed to be drained of its electricity, suggesting that history might be all they had to squabble about this year.
Boston opened that June series at Fenway Park trailing the first-place Yankees by 15 1/2 games, and their surge back into the thick of the postseason hunt has been equal parts unlikely and impressive. But even then, Aaron Boone cautioned that these Red Sox were too talented to stay at the bottom.
“I was like, ‘That team’s really good,’” Boone said on Thursday. “You’ll see people in this game bury teams in April, May. It’s just such a long year that it usually plays itself out to some degree. The reality is, they pitch really well every day. They’re one of the best teams in the game right now.”
These games matter, beginning with Friday’s showdown between Cam Schlittler and Patrick Sandoval – part of a weekend heavy on left-handed pitching from Boston, looking to exploit a perceived Yankees weakness.
And there are weighty implications for both sides, especially if they wind up in the position as last year, when they faced off in an American League Wild Card Series.
Boston has won five of nine meetings between the rivals this season, meaning the Yanks must take at least three of four to win the season series – a tiebreaker that would determine home-field advantage for a potential playoff showdown.
“It’s certainly more exciting based on what the standings look like now,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “I think our guys have played their butts off and they’ve put themselves in a good position. It’s gotten back to what it should be.”
Let’s check in with MLB.com’s beat reporters to see how the rivals are looking ahead of this series.
How has the narrative changed for both teams since the last rivalry series two months ago at Fenway?
Ian Browne, Red Sox beat reporter: For the Red Sox, starting this latest rivalry showdown in the driver’s seat to make the playoffs has to be a bit surreal compared to where things stood heading into the opener of that four-game series against the Yankees on June 25. If things didn’t feel hopeless for Tracy’s club at that time, it had to feel like it was getting to the point.
What happened next – a four-game sweep of the Bombers – set everything in motion for what has happened since. Backed by a franchise-tying 15-game winning streak and a subsequent nine-game streak during a club record stretch for a 30-game span of 27-3, the Red Sox are now a confident bunch who entered Thursday with a greater than 98 percent chance of making it to the postseason, per FanGraphs.
Bryan Hoch, Yankees beat reporter: At that time, it looked like the Yankees were the team to beat in the AL, even without Aaron Judge in the lineup. Maybe they weren’t going to run away with it, but I remember talking to a scout at that time who told me, “The Yankees are going to be fine, because they can pitch.” By and large, that’s been true.
Their rotation has been everything you could’ve asked for, and the bullpen has been stellar for the most part. Somewhat unexpectedly, offense has been the issue, forcing them to play in way too many close games. That changed this week, with 31 runs scored across three games against the Blue Jays and three against the Astros, but I wouldn’t expect that kind of output against Boston.
Both squads added at the Trade Deadline, meaning the rivalry has some new faces. How have the additions on both sides fared?
Browne: Three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, plenty familiar with the Yankees from his time in Baltimore, was Boston’s big prize at the Deadline. Rutschman’s bat has been cold in his first 12 games (.146/.255/.244, one homer, four RBIs) with his new team. However, he has gained praise for his quick acclimation with the pitching staff and his command behind the plate.
Thus far, lefty reliever Erik Miller has been the most prolific performer of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s Trade Deadline haul, throwing 10 scoreless outings with three walks and 18 strikeouts.
Hoch: What’s that Shaq meme -- “I wasn’t familiar with your game?” That’s probably how a lot of Yankees fans feel about Luis García Jr., who got off to a slow start after coming over from the Nationals, but has really turned it on lately. García has four homers in seven games, showcasing a flat, powerful swing that seems perfect for the Bronx – and elsewhere.
This series will be interesting for Heliot Ramos, who came over from the Giants just as the Yankees were facing a ton of right-handed pitchers. That’s not really his calling card, and now with Cody Bellinger back from the IL, they can use him against lefties. The Deadline also allowed the Yankees to promote rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr., who’ll be getting his first taste of the rivalry.
Both teams have lost high-impact players due to injuries. What are the current health updates?
Browne: The Red Sox are on the verge – perhaps as soon as Friday – of getting one of their most important players back in OF/DH Roman Anthony, who has been out since May 5 with a partially torn tendon in his right hand/wrist. Though Anthony’s sophomore season started slow before the injury, the 22-year-old offers an impact bat that deepens the lineup significantly.
Shortstop Trevor Story has also been out on a Minor League rehab assignment in his comeback from sports hernia surgery, but he’s been unable to get his bat going, making it unclear when he will be activated.
Lefty ace Garrett Crochet hasn’t pitched since April 25 due to left shoulder inflammation that was more serious than anyone though initially. His best hope is to make back late in the regular season or by the playoffs as a one- or two-inning reliever.
Hoch: Max Fried (left elbow bone bruise) is expected to return from the IL to start one end of Saturday’s doubleheader. Otherwise, Judge (right rib fracture) is the biggest missing piece, and though he’s taking overhand BP and speaking optimistically about avoiding a Minor League rehab stint, the captain will be watching this series from the dugout.
Giancarlo Stanton (left calf strain) is likely done for the year, as is Fernando Cruz (right UCL tear). There are bullpen pieces on the horizon in Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John rehab), who is set to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday, and Ryan Weathers (left forearm flexor strain). Ryan McMahon (left thumb sprain) may not be activated until Sept. 1.
How has each team been playing of late?
Browne: The Sox have had one bump in the road since the All-Star break, going 2-7 right when the 27-3 stretch ended. But they’ve bounced back to win their last three series, going 7-2. The improvement of the offense was a huge factor when Boston was at its best, but runs have been harder to come by as of late. The pitching has been somewhere between steady and stellar all year.
Hoch: The Yankees have won seven of 10 games, and zooming out, they’re 24-16 in their last 40 (since July 10). They enter the series with the Red Sox at 17 games over .500 at 75-58. As previously mentioned, the bats are starting to provide support, which coincides with Bellinger’s return from the IL.
How realistic is catching the Rays for first in the AL East for both clubs?
Browne: While a Wild Card spot appears close to a lock for the Sox, they trail the Rays by six games in the AL East with 29 to go. Three more head-to-head games at Tropicana Field (Sept. 18-20) give the Sox a puncher’s chance at winning the division. Or, as FanGraphs projects, about a 6 percent chance. Getting a home Wild Card Series is the most realistic thing Boston is chasing at this point. And just how realistic that is depends on how this condensed, four-game set at Yankee Stadium goes.
Hoch: If they take care of business against the Red Sox this weekend, don’t be surprised when Boone offers some version of, “It’s right in front of us.” As of Thursday, FanGraphs gave the Yankees about a 24% chance of winning the East.
The dates to circle on the calendar begin on Sept. 22, when the Rays come to Yankee Stadium for a four-game series, including a day-night doubleheader. Those games are probably going to mean something, just like this weekend.