CATCHER
JORGE POSADA vs. JASON VARITEK
Varitek has been bothered by a neck/shoulder injury, and Sox pitchers miss him when he’s not behind the plate. Baserunners can have a field day on both of these guys.
EDGE: Yankees
FIRST BASE
MARK TEIXEIRA vs. VICTOR MARTINEZ
The acquisition of Martinez at the trade deadline has not had as much of an impact for the Sox as people expected, but he has heated up lately. Teixeira has been great all season with his bat and his glove. EDGE: Yankees
SECOND BASE
ROBINSON CANO vs. DUSTIN PEDROIA
Pedroia is having a nice year but has dropped off from his 2008 MVP performance. Cano has been a force for the Bombers and is on his way to a career year.
EDGE: Yankees
SHORTSTOP
DEREK JETER vs. ALEX GONZALEZ
This one isn’t even close. Jeter is playing his best baseball in years, batting .331 and giving the Yankees a spark at the top of the lineup. Gonzalez is Boston’s latest attempt to shore up the position that has given it problems all season.
EDGE: Yankees
THIRD BASE
ALEX RODRIGUEZ vs.KEVIN YOUKILIS
Youkilis is back from serving his suspension for charging Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello. He has been Boston’s best hitter. A-Rod is not hitting at his usual clip but is still hitting for power.
EDGE: Even
LEFT FIELD
JOHNNY DAMON vs.JASON BAY
Both of these guys can hit, but Damon is a defensive liability. EDGE: Red Sox
CENTER FIELD
MELKY CABRERA vs. JACOBY ELLSBURY
Cabrera may come up with a big hit this weekend, but he can’t compete with all the ways Ellsbury helps the Sox. You can bet Andy Pettitte will be watching if Ellsbury is on third base.
EDGE: Red Sox
RIGHT FIELD
NICK SWISHER vs. J.D. DREW
Swisher’s average is dreadful (.245), but the energetic outfielder has given the Yanks power all season. Drew is as inconsistent as ever.
EDGE: Yankees
DH
HIDEKI MATSUI vs. DAVID ORTIZ
Matsui has been red hot lately while Big Papi still looks lost. EDGE: Yankees
STARTING PITCHERS
The Yankees shut down the Sox two weeks ago in The Bronx and they might do it again. Pettitte, A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia are lined up for the Yanks. The Red Sox have no sure things with Brad Penny, Junichi Tazawa going in the first two games and Josh Beckett throwing Sunday after getting bombed in his last start.
EDGE: Yankees
RELIEVERS
The Sox bullpen has had some hiccups lately, while Mariano Rivera and Phil Hughes roll along.
EDGE: Yankees
BENCH
The Sox bolstered their bench at the deadline with the acquisition of Casey Kotchmann. The Martinez move also enabled them to put Mike Lowell on the bench when Youkilis is playing third base. Jerry Hairston Jr. improved the Yankees’ depth.
EDGE: Even
MANAGER
JOE GIRARDI vs. TERRY FRANCONA
It’s been a rough month in
Red Sox Nation with plenty of injuries, the Ortiz controversy and a team-wide batting slump. Francona will be tested down the stretch as he tries to guide his team back to the playoffs. Girardi guided the Yankees through early struggles and now has them rolling.
EDGE: Even
INTANGIBLES
A few weeks ago all the talk was about how the Sox were in the Yankees’ heads. A four-game sweep at the Stadium reversed things. Now it’s the Sox feeling the pressure as their division title hopes fade. All the pressure is on the Red Sox this weekend as they try to get back in the division race and hold off the Rangers in the wild-card standings.
EDGE: Yankees
