Yankees @ Red Sox

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Yankees (66-35)

@ Boston Red Sox (56-47)

Starting Pitchers:

Tanaka (NYY): 7-5; 4.00 ERA

Porcello (BOS) 8-7; 5.61 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

New York Yankees: 7-3

Boston Red Sox: 6-4

Current odds:

New York Yankees: (-115)

Boston Red Sox: (+105)

• The Boston Red Sox continue a stretch that could define their season when they host the New York Yankees for a four-game series beginning Thursday. Boston is 6-4 during a stretch of 21 consecutive games versus American League East opponents, including 2-1 in a string of 14 straight against New York and Tampa Bay after losing 3-2 to the Rays on Wednesday, and will try to improve on its 1-6 record against the Yankees this season. New York leads the AL East by 10 games over Tampa Bay and is 11 ahead of the Red Sox, who trail Oakland by two for the final wild-card spot. “That’s another team in front of us in the standings,” Red Sox left-hander David Price, who pitched well in defeat Wednesday, told reporters about the Yankees. “It’s crunch time for us right now. We all understand that in this clubhouse. Just go out and win (Thursday) and play good baseball.”

• New York shortstop Didi Gregorius followed up his 5-for-5, seven-RBI performance Tuesday by going 3-for-5 and driving in three runs in Wednesday’s 10-7 victory, giving the Yankees nine wins in 13 games since the All-Star break. New York’s Masahiro Tanaka opposes Rick Porcello on Thursday in a matchup of right-handers who were hit hard while squaring off in London.

• Porcello has won three straight starts after allowing six runs and 11 hits in five innings of a 17-6 victory at Baltimore on Saturday. The 30-year-old New Jersey native, though, is 3-1 with a 10.57 ERA over his last five outings. New York’s Aaron Judge is 4-for-17 with a home run and three walks versus Porcello, who is 10-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 24 starts against the Yankees after yielding six runs in one-third of an inning in a 17-13 loss on June 29 in London.

• Tanaka is unbeaten in his last seven turns (4-0) after yielding five runs and seven hits in six innings of an 11-5 victory over Colorado on Saturday. However, the 30-year-old Japan native has a 5.09 ERA during that span and has seen that number rise 0.79 over his last four starts. Boston’s J.D. Martinez is 8-for-18 with three home runs, eight RBIs and six strikeouts against Tanaka, who is 8-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 19 outings after permitting six runs in two-thirds of an inning against Boston last month.

• The Yankees (588) and the Red Sox (582) lead the majors in runs scored.

• New York C Gary Sanchez (.102 in 15 July games) was placed on the injured list for the second time this season and fourth occurrence since 2018 with a groin injury sustained while running out a ground ball Tuesday.

• Boston RF Mookie Betts has reached base in 21 straight games after doubling Wednesday, giving the Red Sox an extra-base hit in 117 consecutive contests – the longest active streak in baseball.