Pitching Match-Ups:
Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 2.92 ERA) vs Henry Owens (0-0, 8.10 ERA
Tanaka will be making his fifth start of 2016 and has allowed only two earned runs in each of his four outings. In his last start against the Tampa Bay Rays, he struck out a season-high seven batters while tossing seven innings. In his career against the Red Sox, Tanaka is 4-2 with a 5.13 ERA in seven starts.
The Bombers will face yet another lefty with Owens on the hill for Boston. In two starts against the Yankees a year ago, Owens went 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA.
Owens will be the eighth left-handed starter the Yankees have seen in the last ten games.
Michael Pineda (1-2, 6.95) vs Rick Porcello (4-0, 3.51 ERA)
Pineda has struggled mightily, to say the least in his first four starts in 2016 as he’s allowed 30 hits in his 22 innings of work.
Yes, his strikeout total is ranked fifth among American League pitchers with four starts or fewer, but he surrendered seven homers which is one of the highest totals in all of baseball.
Porcello is off to a strong start as he has a winning decision in his first four starts. The righty has decent numbers in 11 starts against the Yankees going 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 11 starts.
Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 4.38 ERA) vs David Price (3-0, 5.76 ERA)
Nasty Nate is on a quest to prove that the pitcher who flirted with a no-no last time out is here to stay.
The hard-throwing righty no-hit the Rangers for six innings and notched his first victory this season thanks to an incredible mix of his splitter and high-90s fastball.
The Price has not been right for the Sox $217-milion investment, but he showed his true potential after a 14-strikeout gem against the Braves.
On Sunday night baseball, Price will be making his first start in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. Price owns a 13-7 record with a 4.04 ERA against New York.
