The set-up: The Boston Red Sox had opened a 4 1/2 game lead over the Yankees entering this weekend's three-game series, on teh strength of an eight-game winning streak (Yanks entered having lost six of nine). Boston held a 3-0 lead going into the eighth inning in Friday's series opener and the Red Sox looked safe, considering they owned the best bullpen (according to ERA) in all of MLB. However, Addison Reed, the latest addition to the relief corps, was charged with four runs without recording an out as the Red Sox bullpen had a 19-inning scoreless streak come to an end,as the team went on to suffer a 5-4 loss. Boston's lead over the Yankees in the American League East was trimmed to 3 1/2 games and the etam's eight-game winning streak was snapped. Maybe the Yanks are pulling out of a funk, as they now own four wins over their last six games, afdter a four-game slide. The series continues this afternoon in the Bronx, as the Yankees still get plenty of head-to-head chances to make up ground in the East with nine more games against the Red Sox.

The pitching matchup: A pair of "surprise pitchers" square off today, as Drew Pomeranz (11-4 & 3.36 ERA) will take the mound for Boston and Luis Severino (9-4 & 2.91 ERA)for New York. Pomeranz has allowed one or no ERs in six of his last 10 starts and breezed past the Chicago White Sox last Saturday while yielding one run and striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-1 win. He's completed seven innings just once this season but has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. The Red Sox are 14-8 in all of his 2017 starts, although they are 10-4 in Pomeranz's last 14 starts and his ERA is 2.71 since June 1. Pomeranz is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in six career starts vs. the Yanks (teams are 4-2). Severino was a first-time All Star in 2017 and has been on a roll since the break, surrendering one or no ERs in each of his last five starts 67 Ks and an 0.83 ERA since the break). He's 4-0 in that stretch, with the Yankees winning all five games. Severino is 1-3 with a 3.30 ERA in five career starts vs. Boston (team is 2-3).

The pick: I had the Yanks as a free play on Friday and will back them again here, with more enthusiasm. Severino's lone no-decision in the last five outings came at Boston back on July 15, when he scattered one run on four hits over seven innings in what turned out to be a 4-1 New York win. but could not get any early support in a game the Yankees went on to win 4-1. New York has won Severino's last six starts, while he's posted a 1.36 ERA. Severino was 0-8 as a starting pitcher last season but has put taht behind him, nicely. Yes, Pomeranz has been a huge boost to Boston's rotation but note that his worst outing since mid-June came at home against New York on July 14, when he was reached for four runs on six hits in six innings without factoring in the decision of a 5-4 Boston win. Make the Yankees an 8* play.