When the AL East leading New York Yankees play host to the last place Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 4 game series Friday, they will be without two of their dynamic players due to injury.
DH Giancarlo Stanton will be out of action for 3-4 weeks after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring strain against the Tampa Bay Rays. Giancarlo was off to a hot start for the Yankees. He was hitting .293 with three homers, seven RBI’s and 10 runs scored through 15 games prior to the injury. The earliest that he could return to the Yankee lineup would be September.
New York could also be without All-Star right fielder Aaron Judge who is listed as day-to-day with a lower leg injury. Judge was removed from Tuesday nights game against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning, after he was shown grimacing while running the bases after hitting a home run. Judge has been red hot hitting .290 with a league leading 9 home runs, and tied at the top in RBI’s with 20.
Boston will send Nathan Evoaldi 1-1 with a 4.09 era to the mound, while New York will counter with ace Gerrit Cole who is 3-0 with a 3.22 era. It will be Cole’s first taste of the rivalry since he signed with the Yankees during the off season.
Cutting Edge Sports 