MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: Red Sox vs. Yankees Betting Preview (April 9)

Red Sox vs. Yankees Odds

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees did not disappoint on Opening Day, with an extra innings battle that culminated in a walk-off win for the Yankees.

The ball was flying out of Yankee Stadium with four home runs accounting for six of the 11 runs scored. However, home runs accounted for six of the eight runs scored at the end of nine innings.

Luis Severino is scheduled to make his first start since September 2019 for the Yankees against Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta. Early odds have the Yankees as heavy favorites coming into Saturday's matchup, but perhaps this could be an upset waiting to happen.

If Game 1 is any indication, there will be plenty of drama in this series.

Boston Red Sox

If there is one thing Pivetta did well last season, it's pitch on the road. He posted a 3.40 FIP away from home in 2021, which is a miracle considering he gives up a fair amount of hard contact. He did sport a 10.25 K/9 and yielded just 0.77 HR/9 on the road as well, which could be what the Sox need to get back in the series.

Offensively, the Red Sox were able to jump on Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole early on Friday and touched him up for three runs in four innings. With the exception of one run off Yankees reliever Clay Holmes in the sixth inning, the Red Sox struggled to get anything going against the Yankees bullpen. (They scored their ghost runner against Michael King in the 10th inning, for what it's worth.)

However, going deep against the Yankees bullpen and facing a starter returning from injury, the Red Sox offense may be in a good position to put up some runs.

New York Yankees

Although it is quite possible they are already working on Josh Donaldson's bust for Monument Park, the Yankees did squander a lot of opportunities in Game 1.

After leaving 21 on base and getting two of their first four runs on solo home runs, there is a feeling that the Yankees should have won much bigger than they did.

The Yankees were also beneficiaries of the Red Sox perhaps overextending reliever, Garrett Whitlock, when he gave up the game tying solo home run to DJ LeMahieu.

Additionally, the bottom of the Yankees' order went 2-17 and left 14 runners on base, which the data suggests is … bad.

Red Sox-Yankees Pick

Although this matchup seems like it should be more of a coin-flip than it is at this point, the Red Sox seem like a really good value at +155.

With Severino returning from injury, he may be on a short leash and a little too pumped up heading into this start.

Furthermore, the Yankees had to use more of their best bullpen arms on Friday and may not have optimal options going into Saturday's game.

The Red Sox ML seems like a great value and should be taken as long as the Yankees are favored.

Pick: Red Sox +155