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The Boston Red Sox are in the Bronx to wrap up a crucial three-game series against the New York Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball. The first pitch is set for 7 PM ET on ESPN.
Widely regarded as the fiercest rivalry in baseball, every Yankees vs Red Sox matchup brings added emotion, history and playoff implications. With both teams battling for position in the competitive AL East, this primetime showdown carries major weight, especially for a Red Sox squad trying to gain ground on the division-leading Yankees.
It has been business as usual for the Yankees, last year’s American League champions. Sitting at 39-24, New York holds first place in the AL East and has looked every bit the contender once again in 2025. Despite missing out on superstar Juan Soto in free agency, the Yankees retooled effectively, bringing in Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried. Each has made a meaningful impact. Bellinger and Goldschmidt provide power and consistency in the middle of the lineup, while Fried has become a reliable force at the top of the rotation. However, the story of the season so far is Aaron Judge. The Yankees captain is amidst one of the most impressive offensive campaigns in modern baseball history. Through early June, Judge boasts a .390 batting average with 21 home runs, leading the American League in nearly every major category, including OBP, SLG, OPS, runs and hits. He has been the engine behind a Yankees offense that ranks first in home runs and slugging percentage.
On the other side of the rivalry, the Red Sox have endured a frustrating and injury-riddled season. Entering tonight’s contest at 31-35, Boston sits fourth in the AL East, 9.5 games back of the Yankees. Injuries have devastated key areas of the roster. Alex Bregman remains on the injured list, Triston Casas is out for the season with a knee injury and Masataka Yoshida, after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, was transferred to the 60-day IL in May. With so many missing pieces, it has been difficult for Boston to build momentum. They are just 4-6 in their last 10 games. Despite the setbacks, the Red Sox offense has remained competitive, ranking 6th in team batting average and 5th in slugging percentage. Much of that production has come from Rafael Devers, who has rebounded from a sluggish start to carry the lineup recently. The real concern lies with the pitching staff. As a team, Boston holds a 4.10 ERA, ranking 22nd in the league.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features veteran left-hander Carlos Rodón taking the mound for the Yankees against Red Sox righty Hunter Dobbins, who will be making his first career start against New York. Rodón has found his rhythm after a shaky 2024 and owns an impressive 2.49 ERA. He has been particularly effective at Yankee Stadium, where the team has been dominant, posting a 21-11 record at home.
Meanwhile, Dobbins enters with a serviceable 4.06 ERA, but his role has mostly been limited to shorter outings, rarely pitching past the fifth inning. Facing the Yankees’ potent lineup on the road in prime time will be his toughest challenge yet. Given New York’s offensive firepower and home-field advantage, the edge goes to the Yankees. The key angle here centers around Aaron Judge, who has been unstoppable this season, especially at home.
Judge leads the majors in on-base percentage (.488) and ranks 2nd in runs scored (59), trailing only Shohei Ohtani. Whether it’s by launching another home run or getting on base and letting his teammates bring him around, Judge is in a great position to cross the plate again tonight.
Luke Lindholm is an avid basketball, baseball, football, hockey and soccer fan who specializes in writing promotional content for multiple sportsbooks and prediction-based articles across a variety of sports. His work has been featured on prominent websites including Sports Illustrated, Pickswise, Men’s Journal, TheStreet, Athlon Sports and more. He started as a college football handicapper for Pickswise in 2016 and is a current member of the Pickswise NFL handicapping team.