Yankees at Red Sox
A highly anticipated showdown between the two best teams in the majors has been dominated by the Boston Red Sox, who will try to make it three straight wins over the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. Boston has outscored the Yankees 19-8 in the first two games to open a 7 1/2-game lead in the American League East - its biggest cushion of the year.
Steve Pearce, acquired from Toronto at the end of June to provide a reliable bat against left-handers, has demolished the New York in the first two games, following up his three-homer eruption in the series opener with a two-run blast in Friday's 4-1 win. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, another addition before the trade deadline, attempts to build on his stellar Boston debut and follow Rick Porcello's gem against New York, which has dropped three in a row to match its longest skid of the season. After getting bludgeoned 15-7 in the series opener, all the Yankees could manage was a solo homer by Miguel Andujar - only the second time in 100 years they were limited to one hit or less at Fenway Park. New York must pin its hopes on right-hander Chance Adams, who will be promoted from the minors Saturday to make his major-league debut after recent acquisition J.A. Happ was placed on the disabled list with hand, foot and mouth disease.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Chance Adams (NR) vs. Red Sox RH Nathan Eovaldi (4-4, 3.80)
Adams was among New York's top prospects but struggled early in the year after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow during the offseason. He is 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 starts at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven turns - although he failed to pitch more than four innings four times in that span. Adams is coming off a great start Monday, taking a no-hitter into the eighth.
Eovaldi improved to 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA in five career starts at Fenway Park after a sensational debut with the Red Sox, blanking Minnesota on four hits over seven innings on Sunday. He pitched fairly well at Yankee Stadium for Tampa Bay on June 15 before giving up three eighth-inning runs and was charged with five runs in 7 1/3 frames. Didi Gregorius has been a nemesis for Eovaldi, going 5-for-9 with a home run.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pearce has more homers (14) against the Yankees than any other club, including 10 since the start of 2016.
2. Gregorius hit two homers in the series opener but is 6-for-41 versus Boston this season.
3. Red Sox 2B Ian Kinsler (left hamstring tightness) left Friday's game and is expected to be placed on the DL.