The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have bludgeoned each other through the first two games of their three-game series this weekend as they jockey for position in the American League Wild Card standings.
One insider shared some stats to provide context into just how ridiculous this series has been so far.
ESPN’s Buster Olney shared on X that the two teams over the first two games of the series have combined for 57 hits, 35 runs, 23 relief appearances, 379 bullpen pitches, six ties, and seven lead changes.
The Yankees and Red Sox the last two days:57 hits35 runs23 relief appearances379 pitches from the bullpens6 instances in which one team tied the score7 instances when the lead changedTanner Houck vs. Carlos Rodon in the third game of the series tonight, on SNB
Carlos Rodon and Tanner Houck are on the mound for the finale on Sunday Night Baseball and both will look to provide some much-needed relief to a couple of overworked bullpens.
Saturday’s game featured five ties as the Yankees won 11-8, while the Sox were able to hang on to win the series opener 9-7 after Masataka Yoshida’s game-winning two-run single in the 8th inning.
In each of the first two games, the winning team was able to come back late and score five unanswered runs to win the game while each closer blew a save.
Both teams can hang their hats on the fact that their offenses have gotten going in this series and will hope that trend can continue even after the series ends.
That being said, both bullpens have been put through the wringer and are in desperate need of a night off, which Rodon has been unable to provide of late.
Rodon went seven strong innings in his last start but didn’t make it past 5.1 innings in any of his previous six, a stretch that began with him giving up five runs in five innings in Fenway Park about six weeks ago.