The top 2 teams in the American League standings will begin a 3-game series on Tuesday when the New York Yankees 24-10 (.706) and Boston Red Sox 25-9 (.735) collide. The opening pitch from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx is slated for 7:05 PM ET. At this present time (5/7), the MLB odds at Bookmaker is displaying New York as a mammoth -205 money line favorite, and there’s a posted total of 8.5.

This will be the second series of the season between these bitter AL East rivals. Boston took 2 of 3 from New York at Fenway Park in early April. The Red Sox outscored New York by a combined 27-14 during those trio of games.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Boston will send southpaw Drew Pomeranz to the mound on Tuesday. This will be just the 4^th start of the season for Pomeranz and he’s exhibited shaky form thus far. Pomeranz has compiled a lofty 6.13 ERA and 1.70 WHIP during his first 3 starts of 2018. Nonetheless, since 2014, the veteran lefty has made 9 career starts against the Yankees while posting a stellar 3.47 ERA.

The Yankees ace Luis Severino will start Tuesday’s series opener. Severino has a brilliant 2.11 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in his first 7 starts of 2018. He’s been even better during his 3 starts at Yankee Stadium while collecting an excellent 1.33 ERA and 0.64 WHIP. On a negative note, the Yankees extremely talented young right-hander has endured his fair share of struggles when facing Boston. That’s apparent from his uninspiring 4.77 ERA in 8 starts against the Red Sox..

Red Sox Cool Off Following Red-Hot Start

Boston began the 2018 season by going an exceptional 17-2 in their first 19 games. However, since that time, they’re just a mediocre 8-7. Nevertheless, they enter this highly anticipated series on a modest 3-game winning streak.

Bronx Bombers on Fire

The Yankees began 2018 with a lackluster 9-9 record. Nevertheless, they’ve responded by winning 15 of their last 16 games. As a matter of fact, New York is winners of 6 in a row while doing so against 2 teams in the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians who both won 100 games or more last season. After once trailing 1^st place Boston by 7.0 games in the AL East standings, they’ve since trimmed their lead down to a mere 1.0 game.   

Notable Team Betting Trends

Boston is coming off Sunday’s 6-1 win over Texas. The Red Sox are an extremely profitable 10-1 this season following a game in which they allowed 2 runs or less.

The Yankees are a perfect 11-0 in 2018 after winning 5 or 6 of its previous 7 games. New York is also 14-4 over the total this season when MLB odds show them as a home favorite of -110 or greater.

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com