MLB Betting Picks June 4, 2021 – Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

The longstanding rivalry between AL East foes Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees resumes this weekend when the teams hookup for the second of a three-game set Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Both clubs are near the top of the division standings but they are chasing down Tampa Bay for the top spot with special meaning in head-to-head battles. The Yankees failed to close the gap splitting a four-game set with the Rays. That came on the heels of a sweep at the hands of Detroit giving New York just a 3-7 record in 10 game leading up to the weekend series.  Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1600).

The game will air live on FOX with betting options for every game on the 2021 MLB schedule available at BookMaker.eu.

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Date and Time: Saturday, June 5, 2021, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn, NY
Probable Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Jameson Taillon
Opening MLB Odds: (Check Back Later)
Red Sox at Yankees TV Coverage: FOX

Odds Analysis

We’re over a quarter of the way through the season and we finally get a matchup between the heated rivals. I guess that just gives ESPN, FOX and MLB Network more to cover over the final 100 or so games. With both clubs fighting for positioning at the top of the standings it is a game worth airing. Boston stopped a season-high tying three-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Astros on Thursday and holds a slim lead over the Yankees for second place.

We weren’t sure what to expect from Boston this year after two down seasons left them scuffling. Part of their problems last year stemmed from their inability to beat the Yankees. The teams played 10 times in the abbreviated campaign and a Sox win in the finale prevented them from getting swept in the season series. Boston has been much improved holding down first place for a long stretch until losing five of eight games. At 33-23 entering the weekend they’ve been one of the more profitable teams up 809 units on the moneyline.

The Yankees have been inconsistent all season largely due to an offense that hasn’t done much. A six-game winning streak near the end of May took them a season-high nine games over .500. However, since then they are just 3-7 while being held to two runs or less in seven of those outings with the UNDER at 7-3. They average just 3.74 runs per game with a .227 team batting average, both ranking near the bottom of MLB. Last year’s batting leader D.J. LeMahieu is hitting only .255 and four players with at least 100 at bats are hitting below the Mendoza line.

Probable Pitchers

If the New York bats are to come alive, Eduardo Rodriguez (5-4, 5.64 ERA) would be the guy to do it against. The lefty has struggled mightily in his last four starts allowing at least four earned every turn while boasting an 8.85 ERA. He was charged with six run on seven hits in 4.2 innings against Houston in his last start and hasn’t pitched past the fifth inning in any of his previous three starts.

It’s been a perplexing campaign so far for Rodriguez, who went 19-6 with a 3.81 ERA over 34 starts in 2019. He opted out of last season and that could be having a lingering effect, though he’s not making excuses. “I don’t think that has anything to do with missing last year. It’s just about location right now,” he said. Manager Alex Cora is also sticking by his southpaw, who was the unquestioned ace of the staff heading into May.

With the offense struggling, the Yankees have relied on their pitching to keep them afloat. They boast the fourth-best team ERA in the majors at 3.23 while starters have pitched to a 3.56 ERA. Those numbers would be even better if not for Jameson Taillon (1-4, 5.10 ERA), who gets another crack on Saturday. When he’s been good he’s been really good with four games of two runs or fewer allowed. There just haven’t been many of those outings. Two starts ago he blanked the White Sox giving up just two hits in 5.0 innings.

Taillon is 0-2 with a 4.97 ERA over his last five starts, including his five shutout frames against Chicago. He’s allowed five homers with 10 walks over 25.1 innings in that stretch. Good news for New York backers is that Taillon has been much sharper at home pitching to a 2.90 ERA allowing 20 hits with a 0.97 WHIP over 31 frames.

Bet Red Sox at Yankees at BookMaker.eu

Even if it’s a regular season matchup in June games between the teams always spark an interest. Boston is looking to change the narrative after losing 17 of 19 over the previous two seasons. The Sox aim to take advantage of a slumbering New York offense to get Rodriguez on track since he’s a key to their success. Despite the lofty numbers I expect him to be better while the Sox have an advantage at the dish giving an edge to the visitors.

MLB Score Prediction: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com