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Yankees-Red Sox Odds: Series Preview & Best Bets To Back

Bill Speros for Bookies.com

Bill Speros  | 6 mins

Yankees-Red Sox Odds: Series Preview & Best Bets To Back

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The Boston Red Sox believe they have a secret weapon in their critical three-game series against the New York Yankees that begins Friday night at Fenway Park.

It’s not a clone of Chris Sale, or Xander Bogaerts’ secret twin brother.

Nope, this surprising tool could be the ultimate MLB betting edge: The power of superstition.

The Bosox talisman is their nifty/nauseating “City Connect” Blue and Yellow uniforms.


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The Red Sox switched back to colorful threads seven games ago and have not lost since. The team does not plan to return to its traditional white, grey and red clothing any time soon. These uniforms are inspired by the colors of the Boston Marathon. They were originally unveiled before the 2021 season and were first worn from April 17-19 to mark Patriots Day.

The Red Sox now hold a two-game edge for first place in the American League wild card race over the Yankees. Boston’s edge over Toronto is 2½ games. The Tampa Bay Rays already clinched a playoff berth and have a six-game lead in the AL East with eight games to play.

Red Sox vs Yankees: Who Holds The Edge?

Yankees-Red Sox Odds: Series Preview & Best Bets To Back 1

The Red Sox (88-65) have already clinched the season series against the Yankees (86-67), taking 10 of their previous 16 meetings. That guarantees any wild card play-in game between the teams will be held at Fenway Park.

Boston surpassed its MLB futures projected total of 80.5 wins at BetMGM. Meanwhile, the Yankees have mathematically clinched the under on their season total of 95.5 victories at DraftKings since they only have nine games to play.


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The Yankees were betting favorites at DraftKings to win the AL East (-215) and pennant (+230) before the season began. They sat behind the Dodgers to win it all at +500. Boston was +250 to make the postseason, +2000 to win the AL East, +2200 to win the AL pennant and +5000 to win the World Series at PointsBet.

Any decisive outcome in Boston’s favor this weekend will all but wrap up a wild card spot for Boston. Things are a bit murkier for the Yankees, who have to look up at Boston and ward off the surging Blue Jays at the same time.

Looking to the final week of the season, the Red Sox have three games at Baltimore before closing the season in Washington. The Yankees head to Toronto in what could be a make-or-break three-game affair for both teams. The Bombers close the season in St. Petersburg against the Rays. The Rays could well have home field in the American League locked up by this time next week.

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What To Expect At Fenway

Yankees-Red Sox Odds: Series Preview & Best Bets To Back 2

Both teams enter this throwback-to-2004 series playing their best baseball of the season. Combined, Boston and New York have won 15 of their past 20 games.

During the Red Sox “City Connect” winning streak, the team had the good fortune to play the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets five times. It will take more than just mojo to beat the Yankees this weekend.

New York will throw its top three starters at Boston, beginning with Gerritt Cole (18-8, 3.03 ERA) Friday night. The Red Sox counter with Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.58) in a battle of righties. Sale pitched Wednesday night against the Amazins.

Friday’s Red Sox-Yankees odds via BetMGM:

Team Run LineTotalMoneyline
NY Yankees -1.5 (+135)O/9 (-105)-120
Boston Red Sox +1.5 (-160)U/9 (-115)+100

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Rain is possible for Friday and Saturday. There is the possibility of a double-header at some point this weekend. Sunday night should be ideal for baseball.

LHP Néstor Cortes Jr. (2-2, 2.79) goes for the Pinstripes Saturday afternoon against righty Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.63). Sunday night, a duel of left-handers features Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 4.97 ERA) against Jordan Montgomery (6-6, 5.35 ERA).

Both teams are hurting in the bullpen. One-time Boston closer Matt Barnes made the All-Star Game this season before imploding over the summer. Boston righty Garrett Whitlock is on the 10-day IL so the Yankees won’t have to worry about his 199 strikeouts (in just 72.1 innings).

The Yankees will have Luis Severino available for limited duty in relief as he works back from 2020 Tommy John surgery. New York’s best reliever, Jonathan Loáisiga, is sidelined with shoulder woes.

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Yankees-Red Sox Odds: Series Preview & Best Bets To Back 3

These teams love to mash the ball, especially as of late. The Red Sox have tagged Cole for a pair of losses this season, along with 19 hits and 9 earned runs in 16 innings. Eovaldi is 2-1 against New York this year with a 2.01 ERA. He’s struck out 34 Yankees batters in 31.1 IP.

Joey Gallo has delivered for the Yankees of late after joining the team ahead of the trade deadline. He’s slashing .286/.366/.914 with 7 HR and 8 RBI in his past 41 plate appearances. Bogaerts is hitting .387 in his previous eight games with 3 HR, 9 RBI and a bulky 1.230 OPS.

"Hometown" Red Sox and Yankees fans can legally live bet the series on betting apps in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Legal sports betting in Massachusetts continues its slog through the legislative mire and muck of Beacon Hill.

Best Bet: Weather issues notwithstanding, the Red Sox look strong in the opener. Fenway Park will be fully packed for the first time since 2019. The Faithful should be juiced for this one. The Yankees are 71-82 against the run line this year and games at Fenway this year are averaging 10.8 runs. At sportsbooks and betting sites, look for Boston to take 2 of 3 with at least two of the games devolving into classic, four-plus-hour Red Sox-Yankees slugfests.

About the Author

Bill Speros for Bookies.com
Bill Speros
Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.