Yankees: Bad blood and rivalry with Red Sox coming to the Bronx Zoo

The Yankees appear unstoppable, but the Red Sox still own the best record in baseball. Both teams will gear up on Tuesday night for MLB’s version of “The Clash of the Titans.”

The Red Sox, 25-9, are now just one game up on the Yankees at 24-10, after leading them by 7.5 games only 16 days ago. The Bombers have won 15 of 16 while the Sox have returned to Earth but have still won eight of their last 12 games.

Both teams have come from behind in many of those contests, but the Yankees’ late-inning surges have been against far better teams; Angels, Astros and Indians as compared to the Red Sox’s way easier schedule vs. the Rays, Royals and Rangers.

This three-game series in the Bronx Zoo will attract significant attention, not only deciding which team is baseball’s best at the moment but also due to the recent bad blood exerted between these two titans.

Unless you’re from another planet, you remember Joe Kelly’s intentional beaning of Tyler Austin and subsequent bench-clearing brawl on April 11.

There were four ejections in that game, with Kelly and Austin both drawing suspensions. I do not believe the Yanks will retaliate unless there is another provocation by Boston. I seriously don’t think Yankees bubble blowing manager Aaron Boone will allow it.

Austin must be steaming since he has not yet recovered his stoic form from before the suspension. Neil Walker has seen far more playing time because of one good week — and Austin’s timing at the plate has suffered because of it.

Be careful what you wish for

After his win in Texas on Sunday, Chris Sale was quoted by Stephen Hawkins of the Washington Post as saying:

"“This is our first time going up to New York, so I wish I was getting the ball in one of those games. But there’s only so much you can do.”More from Yankees NewsYankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendarYankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielderMichael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening DayNo, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023Yankees’ Marwin González replaces Red Sox LF in Japan in logical next step"

Sale better be cautious about what he wants. Stanton, Gregorius, Sanchez, Austin and now Torres have all destroyed left-handed pitching this season — combining for a .322 BA, 10 HR and 23 RBI in 121 AB.

The Red Sox will also be facing a Yankees starting pitching rotation that is currently leading the AL in almost every statistical category. In the last 13 games, the entire staff is second only to the Rays with a 2.50 ERA, but first in strikeouts with 70 and a WHIP of 0.85.

On the other side of the coin, Red Sox star, Mookie Betts was pulled from Sunday’s game in Texas after suffering a shoulder injury. CBS is reporting:

"Betts, leading the majors in homers (13), runs (36) and batting average (.355), left Sunday’s game against the Rangers after getting hit by a throw while running the bases."

The Red Sox won two of the three games in the first series in Beantown, but they face a very different Yankees team this time around. This confident Yankee bunch is on a new winning streak of six games and defending a nine-game win streak at home.

Staff ace Luis Severino (5-1, 2.11 ERA) will face Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 6.14) in the opener on Tuesday night.

Although the Bombers are on a tear, on paper, these club’s seem evenly matched, and this series could come down to the skills of their respective managers: Alex Cora and Aaron Boone.

Both are rookie skippers, but Cora has two years coaching experience with the reigning World Series champion, Houston Astros — while Boone has none.

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Whatever the outcome, it will be entertaining to watch this revitalized age-old rivalry back at full throttle — and good for MLB ratings, attracting interest from around the world as these two clubs are set for another “Clash of the Titans” matchup in London in 2019.