New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox: James Paxton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

The Yankees look to bounce back after last weekend’s tough outing in Boston, as they play the first game of a four-game set against their third-place rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

This series represents a potential turning point for the season, as the Yankees have the opportunity to all but bury the Red Sox, who are 10 games out in the divisional race, and put a serious damper in their Wild Card hopes, where they are currently 3.5 games back.

James Paxton, with his 4.72 ERA (4.28 FIP), looks to bounce back after a rough and strange start in Boston last weekend, in which he gave up seven runs in four innings, yet struck out nine batters and walked none. He has pitched much better at home this season (3.75 ERA in the Bronx vs. 5.83 on the road), so there’s some hope that he might bounce back against the tough Boston lineup.

Opposing him will be Eduardo Rodriguez, who has a 4.13 ERA (4.22 FIP). The Boston lefty has been on a hot streak, going at least five innings and giving up three or fewer runs in his last six starts, earning the win in five of them.

DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner return to the lineup, with the former leading off and playing second base and the latter batting ninth and in center. Aaron Hicks gets a half-day off serving as the DH. Didi Gregorius is out tonight with a left pinky/ring finger strain, as he hopes to avoid the IL. Gleyber Torres will man shortstop tonight.

The Red Sox will be sending out one of their standard lineups, led by Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, and J.D. Martinez. Michael Chavis gets the start at second base tonight, with the red-hot utilityman Sam Travis (.385/.407/.577 in his last 27 plate appearances) at first.

You can catch tonight’s game on the YES Network or the MLB Network (out-of-market only), listen along on either WFAN 660 or 101.9 FM, WADO 1280, or stream the game on fubo.tv.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 EDT. Let’s Go Yankees!