Boston at New York

The Red Sox squeezed out a win in the Bronx yesterday, but that was behind a focused pitcher who's been throwing well his last four starts and racking up strikeouts (Jon Lester). There are few reasons to back this Boston team consistently with the terrible starting pitching and clubhouse dysfunction. One of those struggling arms goes here in aging Josh Beckett (5-10, 5.19 ERA), who has fanned just six his last three starts with a 10.38 ERA. He doesn't have it anymore, putting up ugly numbers since last September, almost a full year now. He has a 10.80 ERA against the Yankees this season and the Red Sox are 2-9 in Beckett's last 11 starts. The Red Sox are 19-39 in their last 58 games as a road underdog of +151 to +200. First place New York has a powerhouse offense ranked second in baseball in runs scored, first in slugging and fourth in on-base percentage, one that wears opposing pitchers down in this small park. The Yankees are 28-12 in their last 40 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. They go with Hiroki Kuroda, who has been strong all year (3.06 ERA) and is on a tear with a 1.66 ERA his last three starts. Play the NY Yankees.