Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees 8/18/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Boston Red Sox complete a three-game series on the road Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Boston is 69-51 following a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Boston swept the Orioles in a weekend series at home, has won three of the last four and the Red Sox are second in the American League East 3 ½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

Xander Bogaerts is batting .308 to lead Boston and the shortstop has team highs in hits with 127 and on-base percentage at .377. Third baseman Rafael Devers has 29 home runs and 89 RBIs to lead the Red Sox in both categories. On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox will send Nick Pivetta to the mound. The right hander is 9-5 with an ERA of 4.20, 139 Ks and 52 BBs.

New York improved to 66-52 following a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in a makeup game. Gerrit Cole gave up two hits in five-plus Innings while striking out nine in his first start back from covid-19 injured list. New York has won three straight and the Yankees have moved to 5 ½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East

Aaron Judge is batting .288 to lead New York and the right fielder has 26 home runs, 63 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .376 to lead New York in each of those categories. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu is the leader in hits with 121. On Wednesday, the New York Yankees will send Andrew Heaney to the mound. The left-hander is 7-8 with an ERA of 5.78, 131 Ks and 37 BBs.