Red Sox vs. Yankees, Major League Baseball Betting Lines – April 10

Carrie Stroup here with your Red Sox vs. Yankees betting preview and all of today’s MLB lines.  Place your 1^st bet, get your 2^nd bet for FREE here.

BOSTON RED SOX (4-5) at NEW YORK YANKEES (4-5)      

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Pick ‘em & 8.5 flat

One of the biggest rivalries in sports opens its 2014 series on Thursday night when the Red Sox take on the Yankees in the Bronx.

Boston, the defending World Series champions, has had a rough start to this season, which included a sweep at home from the Brewers. The Sox were able to win their most recent three-game set though, taking two out of three against the Rangers while scoring only four runs per game. They clinched the series on Wednesday night as DH David Ortiz (.278) went yard with two men on base, helping the team to a 4-2 victory. The Yankees have also had their struggles in the early going, winning their series against the Blue Jays, but losing to both Houston and most recently, the Orioles. They split the first two contests of the series and took a 3-3 tie going into the ninth inning where they felt the loss of injured closer David Robertson (groin) as Shawn Kelley allowed two runs and the Yanks lost 5-4 to Baltimore. The Red Sox will look to RHP Clay Buchholz (0-0, 12.46 ERA) to face their rival for the first time this year, and he has a chip on his shoulder after a dreadful 2014 debut against Milwaukee. RHP Michael Pineda (0-1, 1.50 ERA) will counter Buchholz and pitched great in his first start of the year, but could not come away with a win, as his offense could not put a run on the board. This matchup has obviously been quite exciting for plenty of years now and has been quite even recently, with the Yankees holding a 19-18 series lead since the start of 2012. Playing at home has not given New York too much of an advantage either, as the club is 10-9 at Yankee Stadium during this timeframe. Bettors should take notice that the Bombers are 58-32 (.644) as a favorite of -110 or higher since the beginning of last season, while Boston is 17-4 (.810) in all games when Buchholz is pitching since the start of the 2013 campaign.

Clay Buchholz started only 16 games last season but put together an incredible 12-1 record with a 1.74 ERA (1.02 WHIP) and a career-high 8.0 K/9. He did not start off this season with the same amount of success, allowing 13 hits and six runs over 4.1 innings while giving up two solo homers. His fastball velocity has dropped slightly over the past five seasons and his average fastball was less than 90 MPH in his start against the Brewers. Head Coach John Farrell says he has no fears with the velocity and that the right-hander's troubles were related to location, but it is still something that should be monitored. Over his 12 career starts against the Yankees, Buchholz has gone 5-5 (5-7 team record) with a 5.32 ERA (1.60 WHIP), but has been absolutely tremendous over his past three outings, which all occurred in 2013. He went 3-0 in that time while allowing just 10 hits, two runs (1 ER) and striking out 11 (7 walks) in 18 innings. One of the newest Yankees, 2B Brian Roberts, could help change New York’s recent struggles against the righty as he has gone 10-for-25 (.400) with four walks and three RBI against him in his career. Meanwhile, OF Brett Gardener is only 2-for-17 (.118) in the matchup with three strikeouts. Boston’s bullpen has been impressive so far with a 3.34 ERA while going 2-for-2 in save opportunities, and has not given up a run over 7.2 innings of relief work on the road. Closer Koji Uehara (0.00 ERA, 2 saves) has pitched three scoreless innings while striking out seven and walking none.

Michael Pineda has lost the last two seasons to injury after being traded to the Yankees back in 2012, but looks to have regained his velocity and showed great improvement in his 2014 debut against the Blue Jays. He went six strong innings, giving up just five hits and one run while striking out five Toronto batters with zero walks. His only start facing the Red Sox came back in 2011 when he was a member of the Mariners and it did not go too well. He lasted only 4.1 IP, giving up eight hits and seven runs with the team eventually losing 12-8. Pineda has had very little experience against any of the Boston hitters but will need to tread carefully around OF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.400, 5 RBI), 1B Mike Napoli (.333, 2 HR, 8 RBI) and DH David Ortiz (.278, 2 HR, 8 RBI) who have all started out hot this season. Outfielders Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes have yet to find their rhythm though, combining to go 8-for-55 (.145) with 18 strikeouts to start the year. The Yankees’ relievers have been poor in their first time around without future Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera closing out games, and have a 4.81 ERA while saving all three of their opportunities. They were horrible in their three-game series against the Orioles, giving up nine runs in just 10 frames (8.10 ERA), including losing the game for New York on Wednesday night. Original closer David Robertson has hit the DL with a groin injury and Shawn Kelley (0-1, 4.15 ERA, 1 save) has taken the job; going 1-for-1 in save opportunities but losing the game in the ninth for the Yankees Wednesday night in a tie game.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter