The New York Yankees are moving along, albeit with a limp, these days as their best player is out of the lineup. With all of their payroll, it's hard to believe that they are lagging well behind not only the Tampa Bay Rays but also the Baltimore Orioles.

If they are going to make quantum leaps somehow, they will need better efforts than they have gotten out of starting pitcher Luis Severino, who takes the mound in the Sunday night showcase against the Boston Red Sox, with game time at 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park.

This is the back end of a day-night doubleheader; the scheduled Saturday game between these teams was rained out.

In the MLB betting odds that have been posted on this game by the folks at BetOnline, the Red Sox are laying a price:

Boston Red Sox -146
New York Yankees +135

Over 9 Runs -115
Under 9 Runs -105

On the run line.....

Red Sox -1.5 Runs (+134)
Yankees +1.5 Runs (-154)

Friday's game was an agonizing one for the Yankees. Starting pitcher Domingo German allowed seven runs in two innings, and Matt Krook got reached for five runs in relief. The rout was on before the fourth inning was over. Justin Turner, the long-time Dodger, had two homers and six RBI for the BoSox. The Yankees, who didn't want to drain their bullpen, went to shortstop-turned center fielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa for one inning of relief. The 15-5 final was embarrassing for the Yanks, who didn't have a chance to come back the next day for some revenge.

Instead, a doubleheader was slated for Sunday. In the daytime opener, Boston spotted the Yanks to a 2-0 first inning lead, but that was all they got as the Red Sox won 6-2.

In the nightcap, New York will send Luis Severino (0-1, 6.48) to the mound against fellow righty Brayan Bello (3-4, 3.78).

The notion of Severino on the mound projects an unsteady image for the Yankees. He is, quite simply, having trouble getting people out and trouble keeping the ball in the park. After encouraging outings in his first two starts, he has been very reachable. The last three outings of his have been nightmarish; in 13 innings he's allowed 16 runs on 22 hits, coughing up seven homers. In those starts, he's yielded a dozen runs during the first two innings.

One can imagine that Yankee manager Aaron Boone would feel fortunate to get four or five innings out of him. The bullpen was used for only 2-1/3 innings in Game 1 of the twin bill, so relief shouldn't be a terrific problem.

Brayan Bello, the 24-year-old Dominican, has had eight straight starts without a real blowup. During that time his ERA has dropped from 9.82 to 3.78. He started against the Yankees a week ago and gave up two runs in seven innings. He has gone without a win since May 17.

Boston scores more runs at home than all but one major league team. The Yankees have had to play since June 4 without Aaron Judge, who injured his big toe crashing through the Dodger Stadium wall, and we're not sure when he'll return. If you recall, Judge carries an incredible amount of the burden last season when he hit 62 homers. Center fielder Harrison Bader is still on a rehab assignment, and all this leaves the Yanks a little thin in the outfield.

We'll do the five-inning prop on this one, laying -140 with the Red Sox.

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