Boston Red Sox vs
New York YankeesPredictions & Preview

Red Sox and Yankees Set to Renew Rivalry in AL East Showdown at Yankee Stadium

The 2025 MLB season continues with a nine-game card on Thursday, August 21, featuring a marquee AL East showdown at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York between the Red Sox and Yankees. The Red Sox are looking for their sixth straight win over the Yankees as they begin a four-game series. After winning two out of three in Bronx in June, the Red Sox swept a three-game set at home. For more information on this matchup and other MLB picks for Thursday's slate, read on. The game is set to start at 7:15 PM ET with the Yankees opening as -138 favorites and a total of 8.5 runs.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox +121 | Yankees -146
• Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-169) | Yankees -1.5 (+140)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 59%.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox suffered a tough 4-3 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles, extending their losing streak to three games. Despite out-hitting the Orioles 8-6, Boston was unable to secure a victory after a hard-fought 11 innings. The Red Sox have been struggling recently, losing seven of their last 10 games and scoring 45 runs with a poor .229/.315/.356 triple-slash. The bullpen has also struggled, with a 4.36 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and .232 batting average against. Lucas Giolito is set to pitch at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, boasting an 8-2 record with a 3.63 ERA this season. In his last four outings, Giolito has posted a 2-0 record with a 2.52 ERA. Despite a 3-2 record with a 4.85 ERA against the Yankees in his career, Giolito will face them for the first time since 2023.

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are on a hot streak, winning six out of their last seven games and holding the top wild card spot in the American League. After a dominant 13-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays last Tuesday, the Yankees are looking to sweep the two-game series. Pitcher Luis Gil is set to start on Thursday night, coming off a strong performance in his last outing. Gil has had success against the Red Sox in the past and will look to continue his impressive track record. Despite being 4.5 games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees remain in a favorable position for a playoff spot.

Yankees' Offensive Momentum Makes Them Favored Against Giolito-led White Sox

In his recent outings, Lucas Giolito has demonstrated strong pitching performance by allowing only one earned run in three out of his last four starts. However, it is important to note that the New York Yankees have displayed an impressive offensive momentum in their previous games, scoring 53 runs with a .294/.392/.605 slash line and a 173 wRC+ over the past seven games. The Yankees have particularly excelled against right-handed pitchers, boasting a .891 OPS and 146 wRC+ in the last 10 days. As a result, I am inclined to favor the Yankees in this matchup. While Luis Gil has shown promise against the Red Sox, he is still honing his skills. The Yankees have a reliable bullpen with a 3.09 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a .188 batting average against in the last 23.1 innings, ready to provide support if needed during the game.

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