• The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees for yet another rivalry bout Friday evening at 7:10 p.m. on ESPN+.
• This will be the 7th meeting between the pair in a series where the Red Sox lead, 4-2. The Red Sox won both series, 2-1.
• See the probable pitchers, odds and a prediction for Friday’s game below.

The AL East very well may be the best division in baseball, and we’re set for a treat tonight as its No. 2 and No. 3 teams face off in Boston.

The Red Sox host the New York Yankees Friday night at 7:10 on ESPN+ for the start of their 3-game weekend series. The Yankees, the superior team according to the rankings, trails 2-4 in the season series but has a chance to even things up or even take the lead when all is said and done on Sunday.

For a complete look at Friday’s game including the latest odds, pitching matchup and a prediction, keep scrolling this page.

Yankees vs. Red Sox Odds

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As you can see, the Yankees are considered slight road favorites for tonight’s matchup at Fenway Park. New York sits at -120 to win outright and +130 to win by a pair of runs or more.

Boston has even +100 odds to win outright while sitting at -160 to keep things within a run.

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The over/under for this matchup is set at 10, about as high as you’ll see it on many sportsbooks covering Major League Baseball. Three of this season series’ matchups have finished over the total of 10, while one ended with 9 and another with 8.

Yankees vs. Red Sox Pitching Matchup

Nestor Cortes vs Brayan Bello

Tonight’s pitching matchup features leftie Nestor Cortes for New York against Brayan Bello for Boston. These 2 pitchers are heading in the opposite direction in July. Let’s start with Cortes, who has struggled mightily across the past month and a half or so.

Cortes’ W-L record stands out, but it goes deeper than its 4-9 reading. He’s earned the loss in 4 games since June 23 and hasn’t worked a win since June 18. You’d have to go all the way back to May to find another win. His 2 recent losses were the worst – Cortes allowed a combined15 hits and 11 earned runs across just 8.2 innings of work against the Rays twice in a row (7/11, 7/20).

As you have probably pointed out, his numbers aren’t horrendous. In fact, it’s fair to say his pair of outings against Tampa were his No. 1 and No. 2 worst on the season. Boston is hitting .278 against Cortes this season, with Rob Refsnyder being his toughest out at .462 throughout his career.

Bello is the opposite of Cortes in the month of July. He’s earned a win in 3 of his last 4 starts and threw well enough to win the 4th if not for Boston losing to LA in extra innings.

The RHP’s 10-5 record is 6th best in baseball right now, and while he isn’t known for his strikeout ability he is absolutely a threat to throw 7 or 8 per game. His season high in that category is 11, which he threw against Oakland on July 9.

His numbers are iffy against New York, though. He earned a loss against the Yankees in June, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing 6 hits and 5 runs with 3 walks. New York’s lineup is batting .311 against Bello throughout his career, with Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe faring best at .375 each.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction

• BOS vs. NYY pick: Boston +1.5 (-160)

There are pros and cons for either pitcher in this matchup. Cortes is having the worse July but Bello has fared worse against this Yankees lineup and has already dropped one in the series this year.

Neither team is playing well entering Friday, either. Both have lost 6 of their last 10 and both lost their most recent series. When that’s what it comes down to, simply play it safe. Especially where Boston is the home team in this scenario.

The post Yankees vs Red Sox Pitching Matchup, Predictions & Odds (July 26) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.