Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 4, 2013 ) Boston 2, NY Yankees 4

The New York Yankees just dropped four straight against the crosstown rival New York Mets. They are hoping to have more success against a traditional rival in the Boston Red Sox when they begin a three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The Red Sox, who enter the series with a two-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East, took two of three in New York to begin the regular season.

The Yankees have lost five in a row overall while scoring a total of 10 runs but are expected to get some lineup reinforcements on Friday, when Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis come off the disabled list. Teixeira has yet to play this season after suffering a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist but has been pain-free while rehabbing in extended spring training and with Double-A Trenton this week. Youkilis (back) has been out since April 28. Boston has been getting strong production from the top of the batting order while winning five of its last seven games, including a 9-2 drubbing of the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), YES (New York), MLB Network

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (6-1, 3.34 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (4-4, 3.96)

Lester was the Opening Day starter against Sabathia at Yankee Stadium and struck out seven while allowing two runs and five hits to earn a win. The left-hander has slowed of late, going 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in his last two outings. Lester was knocked around for a season-high 10 hits and four runs without factoring in the decision against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. He was scheduled to face the Phillies on Thursday but was pushed back to make room for Franklin Morales in the rotation.

Sabathia struggled with his command while walking four and allowing four runs and eight hits over five innings in that Opening Day loss. The burly southpaw seemed to figure things out over the following month but has gone five straight starts without a win. Sabathia allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits on seven frames to absorb a loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury set a club record with five stolen bases on Thursday. He is 11-for-23 over the last five games.

2. New York is expected to option INF David Adams and LHP Vidal Nuno to the minors when activating Teixeira and Youkilis.

3. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia has eight RBIs in his last seven games. He is 11-for-40 with two RBIs in his career against Sabathia.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Yankees 5