Aug. 28, Friday · 7:15 EST · Yankee Stadium
What the Market Expects
Fascinating matchup when it comes to MLB odds on Friday as the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees. Hated rivals come together, and it means anything can happen.
The Yankees are -162 on the moneyline with Boston at +144. The run total is 8, with the run line having the Red Sox at +1½ (-150), and the Yankees at -1½ (+130).
Boston has been scorching over the past two months. It is now only two games behind the Yankees in the AL East and in the wild-card race in the junior circuit. Injuries have ravaged the Yankees, and it is a big reason why they are chasing Tampa Bay and being chased by the Red Sox.
What the Team Totals Reveal
The totals of the season series make this game more intriguing. The Yankees won the first three meetings in 2026. That was when Boston was awful and seemed destined to finish at the bottom of the AL East.
Things have changed dramatically as the Red Sox have won five of the last six games against the Bronx Bombers. That includes a four-game sweep at Fenway Park in late June when the Red Sox outscored New York, 21-9.
Here is where this game gets intense. Patrick Sandoval is supposed to start for the Red Sox. He is 0-2 on the road with a 5.59 ERA in eight starts. The Yankees go with the brilliant Cam Schlittler, who is 11-6 with a sparkling 2.16 ERA. Schlittler’s win in his last start against Toronto ended a stretch that saw the Yankees lose four straight of the righty’s starts.
Schlittler lost his most recent start against Boston, and that makes going with the Yankees if you bet on the MLB a concern.
However, Sandoval’s flaws magnify when facing a Yankees team that has won 7 of 10 overall, like Boston.
Reading the Total
MLB lines at BetUS have the run total at 8, which is above the average of 7 or so. In the loss at Fenway, Schlittler was touched for four runs while going five innings. However, they were all unearned. Blame the poor Yankees defense.
So, the question is what to do: If you like the run line and are thinking over, that tends to mean you believe the Yankees will get to Sandoval. Schlittler can’t be faulted for what happened on June 25 at Fenway Park. In fact, he would be a great play on the prop market in the strikeout category.
