Taking on struggling righty Brad Penny in the opener is longtime Yankee stopper Andy Pettitte, who owns a 16-9 career record against the Red Sox. Penny has continued to spiral as of late, going winless in his last four starts, allowing six total homers and 19 earned runs in that span.
Taking the rubber in Game 2 of the series on Saturday afternoon will be A.J. Burnett, who is 5-1 in 11 career starts against the Sox. Burnett is 10-6 on the season and has been able to maintain a 3.69 ERA despite recent struggles. Slated to face Burnett is rookie Junichi Tazawa, but as NESN’s Heidi Watney points out, the Red Sox may throw Friday call-up Michael Bowden into the mix. Bowden was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket after going 4-6. He faced the Yankees earlier this season in April and held the pinstripes to no runs and no hits in two innings of relief.
Although Josh Beckett takes the bump against New York in the series finale on Sunday night, the Yankees are sending their ace to the mound in CC Sabathia. Sabathia has won four straight and pitched 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball in his last start against Boston.
Watney spoke with SNY.tv’s Ted Berg on Friday, previewing the big weekend series between the rivals:
