Game 135: Yankees vs. Red Sox

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Overview

The Yankees will begin the final month of the season against their hated division rival, the Boston Red Sox.  While the Red Sox have struggled this year after winning the World Series in 2013, it would be foolhardy to think they would not relish the opportunity to play spoiler by dashing the Bombers flickering playoff hopes in this three game series.  The Bombers begin September, 8.5 games out of first place in the American League East and 4 games back of the final wild card spot.  They will need to rebound from a mediocre August in which nearly every bat in the lineup turned to ice causing the team to struggle to score runs on a nightly basis.  The Bombers will need the bats to get off for the month of September or they will not need to worry about how they will do in October because they will be swinging iron golf clubs instead of wooden baseball bats.

The Yankees need to start the month on a good note and taking this initial series of the month from the Red Sox would be a good start.  The Red Sox are last place in the division and essentially forfeited the season at the trade deadline when they sold off their pitching staff and several veterans.  They still pose a threat, however, with a solid lineup that includes David Ortiz, Yoenis Cespedes, and Yankee killer Mike Napoli.  The Yankee pitching staff will need to keep the Boston power hitters in check to avoid a serious set back to their playoff hopes and dreams.