New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox: Gerrit Cole vs. Colten Brewer

The New York Yankees open a four-game weekend wrap-around series against their arch-nemesis Boston Red Sox, as they look to build on the momentum of this week’s two-game sweep against the Atlanta Braves.

Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22 ERA) gets the ball for the Yankees tonight in his fifth start of the season. In his last appearance against the Rays, he struck out a season-high 10 batters in 4.2 innings; he did, however, battle a bit in the fifth, giving up three runs on three hits before being removed for Chad Green. Cole has yet to put everything together all at once as a Yankee, which is a testament to just how good a pitcher he is.

The Boston Red Sox will go with Colten Brewer leading the way in what sits somewhere between a spot start and a bullpen game. Making his first career start, Brewer (3.60 ERA, 10 K, 5 BB, 9 hits in 10 IP) went three innings in his last appearance, Monday against the Rays, so he should be able to provide more length than your typical opener. In 9 career appearances against the Yankees, he has given up 4 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings, with the Yankees posting a .976 OPS against him.

With Aaron Judge headed to the IL with a “very minor calf strain,” Mike Tauchman will man right field tonight, batting sixth. Once again, Luke Voit slots into Judge’s normal spot in the lineup, while Clint Frazier, fresh off a 3-for-4 performance that was a triple short of the cycle in his first game of the season, will DH and bat eighth.

Here’s the lineup that the Red Sox will be trotting out there against Cole.

You can catch the game on the YES Network, which can be streamed on FOX Sports Go, or on the radio at either WFAN 660 or 101.9 FM, WADO 1280. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

As it gets late early in this shortened 2020 season, tonight begins a series that can either bury or resurrect the corpse of the Red Sox season. I, for one, have a very strong preference in this matter. Let’s Go Yankees!