The Boston Red Sox are 13-5 straight up and 11-7 on the runline in their last 18 games at home. The Red Sox will try to open the second half with a strong showing at home, hosting the New York Yankees in a four-game series starting Friday night.
Red Sox vs. Yankees 2017 odds: Boston home favorite at Fenway for Friday night opener
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees renew their bitter rivalry this Friday night at Fenway Park as the second half of the MLB season gets underway.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Boston is a -132 home favorite at Fenway Park for Friday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Drew Pomeranz will start for the home team and is expected to face Michael Pineda as a +122 underdog.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox looked like they might start running away with the AL East when they had a 49-35 record through the first 84 games of the season. But a 1-4 slump before the All-Star break, including three losses to the Tampa Bay Rays, has Boston only 3.5 games ahead of the Rays and Yankees for the top spot in the division.
Boston ranks an uncharacteristic 26th in the league in home runs hit this season, but has still produced 4.84 runs per game. That has been enough for a stingy pitching staff that has led the team to an ERA of 3.82, fourth best in the MLB and second best in the AL.
Pomeranz has had a strong season on the mound for the Red Sox this year and has led Boston to a 7-2 record in his last nine home starts, per the OddsShark MLB Database.
Betting Line / Total: Boston -132 / 9 Runs
New York Yankees
The Yankees have been a tough team to get a pulse on this season, looking like a contender at points with a 21-9 record through 30 games and a 38-23 record through 61 games, while also looking lost in stretches like their 7-18 run to end the first half.
Pineda will try to get his game back on track this week after posting an ugly 7.30 ERA and surrendering seven home runs over his last five starts. New York is 4-8 in its last 12 games at Fenway Park.
Friday night’s total is set at nine runs. The UNDER is 3-0 in the last three games between these two rivals in Boston.
This series will continue on Saturday night with Chris Sale slated to start for the Red Sox and then a doubleheader on Sunday that will feature Rick Porcello in the morning game and David Price at night.
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
When: Friday, July 14, 7:10 p.m. ET
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
