Pitching Matchups:
Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.76 ERA) vs Michael Pineda (1-3, 6.33 ERA)
Starting in game one will be the mind boggler himself, Michael Pineda. He’ll get another chance to shut down the Red Sox lineup that tapped him for two runs on five hits on April 30 at Fenway. On the season, Big Mike is 1-3 with a 6.33 ERA and is currently experiencing a four-start winless streak.
Opposing him for Boston is Rick Porcello who owns a 1.33 ERA in his last three starts including 13.1 straight innings without giving up a single earned run. Against the Yankees last Saturday, Porcello pitched seven shutout innings.
David Price (4-0, 6.14 ERA) vs Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.46 ERA)
Nasty Nate takes the mound in game two of this series after getting lit up for six runs on 10 hits over five innings the start following an outing in which he flirted with a no-hitter.
On Sunday night, the Price was wrong for David as his inconsitency has given the idea that maybe his $217-million contract was a little much.
Anyway, despite his 6.14 ERA the left-hander has been worth the big bucks on the road. He owns a 2-0 record with a 2.57 ERA while striking out 24 over 14 innings of work outside the friendly confines of Fenway Park.
Steven Wright (2-3, 1.67 ERA) vs Luis Severino (0-4, 6.31)
The Yankees discussed a break or demotion for the struggling youngster who owns a 0-4 record with a 6.31 ERA in five starts.
It also seems as though the struggles on the mound have found their way into Severino’s head, especially after dropping two soft tosses from the Yankees’ baseman Mark Teixeira leading to a run scored in Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss in Baltimore.
The outing did have some promise to it, though, as Sevy only allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings. He is still, in my mind, one bad start away from a demotion.
Opposing him is 31-year old knuckleballer, Steven Wright. The right-hander has gone at least six innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer in all five of his starts this season. Opposing batters are hitting .188 against him.
