The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox offered a glimpse at what a postseason encounter might look like on Friday night.
After widening their lead in the race for the American League’s top wild-card spot, the Yankees hope to see standout showings from Carlos Rodon and Max Fried when they host the Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.
New York moved three games ahead of the Red Sox when Cam Schlittler and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in Friday’s 1-0 victory. Cody Bellinger threw out Ceddanne Rafaela at the plate as the potential tying run in the seventh inning.
New York enters its third doubleheader since the All-Star break with a major league-best 3.22 ERA despite spending time without Gerrit Cole, Rodon and Fried.
In the opener, Rodon (4-2, 3.15 ERA) will make his third start since returning from a second injured list stint due to elbow inflammation. He likely will see his pitch count gradually increase.
Rodon threw 66 pitches in his return on Aug. 18 at Baltimore and increased to 76 Sunday when he allowed two runs on two hits in four innings during New York’s 8-3 win over Toronto.
The left-hander is 5-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 13 career starts against Boston.
In the nightcap, Fried (4-4, 2.81) will return from a second but much shorter injured list stint due to a bone bruise in his left elbow.
Fried last pitched Aug. 13 and allowed a solo homer to Weston Wilson among five hits in five innings in 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Fried was 0-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts after returning from his initial two-month absence before being placed on the injured list Aug. 17.
The left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in six career starts against Boston.
“He has responded well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Fried. “Actually, similar to how he responded the first time when he left Baltimore and missed more time. He has kind of responded well to that time and then the buildup. Like, he’s never really been shut down.”
The Red Sox are 9-10 in their past 19 games following a 32-5 stretch that included a 15-game winning streak. Boston has not scored since Jarren Duran hit a grand slam in the 11th inning of Tuesday’s 7-3 win over the host Miami Marlins.
Rafaela had two hits Friday but was doubled off first base once and later thrown out at home plate in a game in which the Red Sox had six walks, went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.
“We just didn’t probably execute when we needed to,” Rafaela said after Boston was blanked in consecutive games for the first time this season. “I made some dumb decisions. We come back tomorrow, and win two and win the other one, we win the series. That’s the plan – win the series and go home.”
Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49), who limited the Yankees to one run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings June 27 while opposing Cole, starts the opener. Since facing New York, Bennett is 6-3 with a 4.61 ERA in his past nine starts and earned the win when he allowed four runs in seven innings against San Francisco on Sunday.
The Red Sox did not announce their pitching plans for the second game and may use an opener followed by Brayan Bello as a bulk reliever.
–Field Level Media
