Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2018 ) NY Yankees 6, Boston 2

The New York Yankees proved to be the most powerful team in Major League Baseball history during the regular season, and the postseason is turning out to be no different. The Yankees will try to keep the home runs coming and grab a lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series when they host the rival Boston Red Sox in Game 3 on Monday.

New York set a record with 267 home runs during the regular season and is up to six through three postseason games after Gary Sanchez blasted a pair and Aaron Judge added a solo shot during a 6-2 victory in Game 2 that evened the series. "A homer is a homer," Sanchez told reporters. "And if we have the opportunity to score runs like that, you know, even if it's 300 feet, I'll take it. Anytime we score and we're helping the team, I'm going to take those." Boston won a franchise-record 108 games during the regular season in part because of its solid starting rotation but David Price could not make it through the second inning of Game 2 and the outlook for the rest of the rotation is unsettled, though the team's confidence has not waned. "I mean, we lost one game," Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez told reporters. "You know what I mean? The battle has been back and forth. I don't think anyone thought we were going to come in here and sweep really. If you look at the records, what are we about even? Wins and losses versus them? So, you know it's going to be a battle."

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Nathan Eovaldi (6-7, 3.81 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (0-0, 0.00)

Eovaldi draws the Game 3 start instead of right-hander Rick Porcello, who was used in relief in Friday's series opener. Eovaldi, who is making his first career playoff appearance, posted a 1.93 ERA in four starts against New York during the regular season and did not allow an earned run in three starts (16 innings) versus the Yankees after being traded to the Red Sox at the July 31 deadline. "Yeah, it definitely gives me confidence just knowing that I've had recent success against them," Eovaldi told reporters. "I'm trying to do the same thing that I have been doing - stay aggressive and try to get that first-pitch strike out of the way."

Severino is making his second start of the 2018 postseason after getting the nod in the wild card game Tuesday and scattering two hits along with four walks over four scoreless innings while striking out seven. The Dominican Republic native, who needed 87 pitches to get through those four frames, is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five career postseason starts, with the lone win coming over Cleveland in the 2017 ALDS. Severino made five starts against Boston during 2018 and went 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 1B Mitch Moreland suffered a hamstring injury in Game 2 and is questionable for Monday.

2. Judge homered in each of New York's first three postseason games and is 7-for-12 with five runs scored and four RBIs in the playoffs.

3. Boston RF Mookie Betts, who won the AL batting title while hitting .346 in the regular season, is 1-for-7 with a pair of strikeouts in the series.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4