Red Sox @ Yankees

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Red Sox (59-51)

@ New York Yankees (68-39)

Starting Pitchers:

Rodriguez (BOS): 13-4; 4.13 ERA

Paxton (NY) 5-6; 4.72 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Boston Red Sox: 5-5

New York Yankees: 4-6

Current odds:

Boston Red Sox: (+114)

New York Yankees: (-123)

• The New York Yankees missed an opportunity to bury the Red Sox in the American League East last weekend in Boston, but they’ll have another crack at it when the rivals begin a condensed four-game series in the Bronx on Friday. The Yankees took a 10-game lead in the division and an 11-game lead over the Red Sox into Fenway Park before losing three of four while giving up an alarming 44 runs. However, Boston was unable to build off the series win and dropped three in a row to Tampa Bay, capped by Thursday’s 9-4 defeat on the heels of a quiet trade deadline in which the Sox did nothing to patch up a beleaguered pitching staff. Xander Bogaerts did his best to keep his team in the game with a pair of home runs amid a 4-for-4 effort, and the star shortstop is 15-for-34 during a seven-game hitting streak that began in the opener of the series versus the Yankees.

• After salvaging the finale at Boston on Sunday, New York split a pair at home with the Arizona Diamondbacks and it begins the series seven up on the Rays and 10 1/2 ahead of the Sox. James Paxton was one of the many Yankees pitchers to struggle at Fenway Park last weekend and will try to bounce back at home Friday opposite streaking left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who heads to New York tied for second in the AL with 13 wins.

• Rodriguez went 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA in July and has won seven straight decisions. He defeated the Yankees last time out despite giving up three runs – his highest total in over a month – over 5 2/3 innings at Fenway Park. New York slugger Aaron Judge is 1-for-15 with six walks and six strikeouts against the 26-year-old Rodriguez, who is 6-4 with a 3.92 ERA in his career versus the Yankees.

• Paxton opened July with three straight quality starts but has allowed 14 runs (11 earned) in just 7 1/3 innings over his last two outings. He dominated the Red Sox at home April 16 with eight scoreless frames and a season high-tying 12 strikeouts, and is 3-1 lifetime versus Boston. J.D. Martinez is 6-for-13 with three extra-base hits against Paxton while Mookie Betts is 6-for-18 with three home runs.

• Yankees OF Mike Tauchman is 14-for-35 with seven RBIs and 11 runs scored over his last nine games.

• Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi has exactly three hits in four of his last five contests.

• The teams play a day-night doubleheader Saturday before an evening affair Sunday to finish the series.