Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2018 ) Boston 2, NY Yankees 3

The New York Yankees spoiled the party in the first game of the series and look to keep the visiting Boston Red Sox from clinching their third straight American League East title again when the teams meet Wednesday night. Neil Walker belted a three-run homer and the Yankees held on for a 3-2 victory Tuesday, reducing their magic number to five to seal a playoff spot.

Slugger Aaron Judge returned to the New York lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-4, getting his first at-bats since July 26 due to a wrist injury, while closer Aroldis Chapman (knee) is expected to be activated by the Yankees in the next few days. New York’s Luis Severino goes after his 18th win when he takes the mound in the middle game of the series while the Red Sox turn to veteran David Price, who gave up eight runs and five homers on July 1 in his last outing at Yankee Stadium. Boston’s Mookie Betts, the major league’s batting leader (.337), was expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday after suffering a side injury Sunday, but was rested due to the soggy field conditions and should return Wednesday. The Red Sox were limited to five hits Tuesday after winning six of their previous seven games, but major league RBI leader J.D. Martinez added his 123rd of the season with a sacrifice fly and recorded his second triple of the season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH David Price (15-6, 3.42 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (17-8, 3.46)

Price is unbeaten since the rough encounter with the Yankees on July 1 and comes into this matchup after tossing seven scoreless innings to beat Toronto last Wednesday. The 33-year-old Vanderbilt product boasts four scoreless outings in his last 11 starts, completing at least six frames nine times in that stretch while going 6-0. Gary Sanchez is 6-for-12 with five homers versus Price, who is 15-13 with a 4.86 ERA lifetime against the Yankees.

Severino is winless in his past three trips to the mound, but suffered a hard-luck loss at Minnesota last Wednesday while giving up one run over 5 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Dominican has completed six innings just once in his past six starts and is 3-6 overall since July 12. Andrew Benintendi is 11-for-24 with two homers, three doubles and 10 RBIs versus Severino, who is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in four starts against Boston in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox boast 103 victories, one shy of the second-most in franchise history (1946).

2. New York OF Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-4 on Tuesday and has been limited to one home run over his last 15 games.

3. Boston INF Eduardo Nunez went 1-for-4 on Tuesday after missing three games with a sore knee.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4