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| Photo credit: New York Daily News |
This year is on course to be the most intense it has been in years. Both teams have young studs in their lineup that will be superstars in this game, and both teams have high expectations for what they hope to accomplish this season, the least of which will be trying to one-up each other at the end of the season. For the Red Sox, they added a much-needed power bat in J.D. Martinez to a lineup that was near the bottom of the league in home runs last season. In the Yankees' case, they added Giancarlo Stanton to an already stacked lineup that included Aaron Judge, who hit 58 home runs last season. So, who has the edge? Let's find out!
Hitting: Right now, the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball, hitting .245 as a team, and they have 4 guys (Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers) hitting above .300, while the Yankees are struggling somewhat, hitting .224 as a team. However, the Yankees do hold a 13-7 edge in home runs, and that is where they have the edge over the Sox. They have 4 guys that potentially hit 20+ home runs. 2, I already mentioned - Stanton, who is only hitting .179 at the moment (let's face it - how many people expect that to continue?), and Judge. The other 2 are Didi Gregorious (3 home runs already), and Gary Sanchez (54 last season). That middle of the order is deadly for any pitcher to navigate. However, home runs aren't everything, as the Sox have proven this year. They have roughly half the home runs and 3 more wins.
Verdict: Red Sox I give the Red Sox the slight edge here because of the myriad of ways they can beat you. So far, they can manufacture runs with the best of them this year, and I think that is the way you win baseball game. However, the Sox have to respect the danger that the Yankees lineup will pose throughout the year.
Pitching: This one is easy. The Red Sox have a whole run and a half over the Yankees in the ERA department (2.19 vs 3.64), and a much better pitching staff, at least on paper, then the Yankees. The Yankees have the Red Sox beat in strikeouts (104-78), but that is about the only edge.
Verdict: Red Sox
They have 3 Cy Young-caliber pitchers, and a bullpen that has been mostly excellent so far.
Fielding: What do I always tell you kids about how defense wins championships? Well, it's true, and as of writing this, the Red Sox have yet to make an error, while the Yankees have made 9. Will that hold for the season? That remains to be seen, but right now, the Red Sox are the better defensive team.
Verdict: Red Sox
0 errors beats 9 errors, last time I checked.
The edge, at least at the time of writing this, goes to the Red Sox. Through 9 games, they have been the best team in baseball, and I believe that will continue.
PS - I just love that picture, don't you?
All stats from espn.com
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