As the MLB regular season nears conclusion, every game goes toward clarifying the playoff picture. While it’s a foregone conclusion that Boston will take the AL East title, the Red Sox will have the opportunity to officially celebrate clinching by winning two of three from the Yankees this week. Beginning on Tuesday, New York will welcome the Red Sox to Yankees Stadium for the first of a three-game set.
JA Happ will take the mound for New York to open the series. The veteran lefty has arguably been the Yankees’ best starter since his acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays in July. He’s a perfect 6-0 with a 2.70 ERA over his brief stint with the Bronx Bombers and will look to further improve upon his already impressive 16-6 season record with an important game against the AL East rivals.
Boston will tap starter Nathan Eovaldi to counter against Happ. Eovaldi hasn’t won a game since August 4 when he faced these same Yankees at home. Since then, he’s 0-3 over seven starts and has failed to get out of the fifth innings in five of those appearances. While Eovaldi is a depth starter for Boston, they’ll be expecting him to improve upon his recent performances in a playoff-like atmosphere in New York.
