Which Pitching Staff Cracks Under The Pressure First?
Starting pitching is so important when it comes to the playoffs. If your starter is out there putting up zeros, they can hide some offensive struggles.
Both the Red Sox and Yankees have decent starting pitching that showcases some of the games brightest stars. As a team, the Red Sox starting rotation pitched to a 3.77 ERA, the eighth lowest in all of baseball, and fourth lowest in the American League. The Yankees, on the other hand, posted a 4.05 ERA the 14th lowest in the majors, and fifth lowest in the American League.
Led by Chris Sale and David Price, Boston has one of the best one-two punches in all of baseball. Sale finished the year 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA, but only appeared in 27 games. He only appeared in one game in the month of August battling shoulder inflammation. Since returning Sept. 11, he allowed just five runs in 12 innings.
It is no secret that Sale has the Yankees number this year, he’s only given up one run in 13 innings. That is the bad news if you are a Yankees fan. The good news is that David Price is expected to start Game 2, and, the Yankees have dominated Price this season scoring 18 runs serving up nine home runs in four starts.
For the Yankees, their rotation depth is much stronger outside of the Red Sox’s one-two punch. Led by Luis Severino, New York is looking to carry over the magic their rotation provided during the 2017 postseason.
J.A. Happ will get the ball in Game 1 for New York. As Red Sox fans know, Happ has had the Sox’s number this season allowing 11 runs, holding Boston hitters to a .193 batting average. He is the perfect match for the Yankees to throw out there against Sale, as Happ has the ability to match Sale inning for inning.
After Happ, New York will go with Masahiro Tanaka who finished the second half with a 2.85 ERA and has a career 1.44 postseason ERA. After Tanaka, Aaron Boone can get creative. He can go with the veteran CC Sabathia, or back Luis Severino who will be on normal rest. Regardless of who Boone chooses, the Yankees should be in great shape when it comes to their starting rotation.
Advantage: Yankees
