Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2018 ) Boston 1, NY Yankees 10

The New York Yankees provided their own version of pop to once again prevent the Boston Red Sox from a bubbly celebration in the Bronx. Fresh off a three-homer performance, the Yankees (93-58) look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Red Sox (103-49) on Thursday and avert their long-time rivals from clinching their third straight American League East title.

Luke Voit went deep on two occasions to highlight his four-hit performance in Wednesday's 10-1 romp to raise New York's home run total to 245, tying its franchise record set in 2012. Miguel Andujar went deep in that contest and also has homered among his two hits in a small sample size versus Thursday starter Eduardo Rodriguez. While the Yankees reside 2 1/2 games ahead of Oakland for the top wild-card spot, the Red Sox are bidding to clinch the AL East in the Bronx for the second time in three years. J.D. Martinez collected three hits on Wednesday to improve to 20-for-59 versus New York this season heading into a matchup with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, against whom he is a robust 7-for-16 with three homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored in his career.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (12-4, 3.53 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (12-5, 3.47)

Rodriguez sandwiched a pair of strong one-run starts around a disastrous one since returning from the disabled list, although he picked up a no-decision despite striking out seven over six innings versus Toronto last Thursday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan fell to 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA in seven career starts at Yankee Stadium after permitting five runs - including two homers - in an 8-1 setback on June 29. Rodriguez fared much better in his previous outing against New York, as he allowed just one hit and struck out eight in five innings of a no-decision on May 10.

Tanaka ran his scoreless innings streak to 20 on Friday after scattering four hits and striking out eight over six frames of an 11-0 rout of Toronto. The 29-year-old Japanese star has answered three losses in four starts with three straight wins. Tanaka owns a 1-0 mark in three outings versus Boston this season, although he has yielded 11 runs on 21 hits - including five homers - with a 6.60 ERA while allowing the club to bat .328 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston OF Mookie Betts is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in his last three games.

2. New York OF Giancarlo Stanton is 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in the series.

3. Red Sox INF Eduardo Nunez has hit safely in six straight games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 3, Yankees 2