As the two teams with the best win percentage in the MLB at the All Star Break, the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry is near an all time high. Which of the teams has the current edge?
You can talk about the Dodgers and Giants, the Cardinals and Cubs, the Packers and Bears, and Ohio State and Michigan, but there's nothing like the Red Sox and the Yankees.
-- baseball commissioner Bud Selig
Season Series: Yankees: 5, Red Sox: 4
Pitching:
Red Sox have the edge in: saves, runs, home runs,
Yankees have the edge in: earned run average, hits, walks, batting average, walks and hits in innings pitched (WHIP)
Infield + Catcher:
Red Sox: Christian Vazquez, Mitch Moreland, Eduardo Nuñez, Xander Bogaerts, Raphael Devers
Yankees: Garry Sanchez, Greg Bird, Gleybor Torres, Didi Gregorious, Miguel Andújar
Outfield + Designated Hitter:
Red Sox: Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Bookie Betts, J.D. Martinez
Yankees: Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton
Rotation: Red Sox > Yankees
Bullpen: Yankees > Red Sox
Infield + Catcher: Yankees > Red Sox
Outfield + DH: Red Sox > Yankees
This is extremely tight, but the difference maker is depth, especially in pitching. The Yankees starting rotation is just not good enough at the moment to get past the Red Sox in a seven game series. For the Red Sox to take home the crown at the end of the year they're going to have to shore up their bullpen, and if possible, improve their situation at catcher. If the Yankees went out and added someone like Jacob DeGrom, the would be dangerous. But both teams have great offenses, and a series between the two is likely, and will be thrilling.
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