Previewing the Red Sox and Yankees

Aug 3, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) is greeted in the dugout after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Series Overview

Time is running out for the New York Yankees. Completing a 7-game road trip, which saw them go 3-4, and lose even more ground in both the AL East to the Baltimore Orioles, and the Wild Card to the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, the Yankees head into the final month of the season, needing to play championship-caliber baseball if they have any hope of extending their season into October.

The defending World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox enter the Bronx, as one of the worst teams in all of baseball. Their hopes of defending their title never got on track this season, and the Red Sox have made many roster moves as a result. Gone are Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, and Jonny Gomes. In are Joe Kelly, Yoenis Cespedes, and Allen Craig. While Craig has been hurt, the Red Sox also signed Cuban defector Rusney Castillo, who might see the bigs before the month is over. Regardless, the Sox are in prime position to spoil the Yankees season in 2014, and to be competitive once again as early as 2015. They have money to spend, and unlike the Yankees, there are no albatross contracts on the books that can’t be worked around. Let’s take a closer look at the match-up that begins tonight!