The New York Yankees and Boston Pink Sox renew baseball’s most storied rivalry when the 2 groups start a key four-game sequence on Thursday within the Bronx. The all of a sudden sizzling Yankees (69-57) have gained 5 in a row and sit in second place within the American League East, 4 video games behind the division-leading Jays. The Pink Sox (68-59), who’ve misplaced three in a row, are in third place within the division, 5.5 video games behind Toronto. If the season ended in the present day, New York and Boston would earn the highest two wild card spots within the AL playoffs.
The Yankees’ successful streak was constructed on the highway. They swept a three-game sequence in opposition to the Cardinals and a two-game sequence in opposition to the Rays. Over the 5 video games, the Bombers’ bats have come alive. The group has averaged 8.6 runs whereas main the majors in house runs (18), OPS (1.023) and slugging (.582).
In the meantime, the Pink Sox lineup has gone chilly. Throughout the three-game dropping streak, Boston has scored simply three runs in every of the video games. The group is hitting .204 over that point.
Thursday’s pitching matchup options the Yankees’ Luis Gil (1-1, 5.14 ERA) in opposition to Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.63) of the Pink Sox. Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Yr, might be making simply his fourth begin of the season. He missed the primary 4 months of the 12 months whereas recovering from a lat pressure sustained in spring coaching.
Giolito, in the meantime, has been stable all season. Over his final 17 begins, he’s 8-1 with a 3.15 ERA.
Whereas the Yankees-Pink Sox sequence opener is the marquee attraction on the sporting panorama on Thursday, there are different choices on a nine-game MLB slate, a two-game NFL preseason schedule and a four-game WNBA lineup.
Beneath is a snapshot of what to look at and wager on for Thursday, Aug. 21. All occasions Japanese.
NFL greatest bets, the place to look at
Steelers at Panthers
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Charlotte, N.C. | TV: NFL Community | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Skilled: Steelers -4 (Larry Hartstein) and Underneath 35.5 complete factors (Hartstein)
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin stated newly acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t play on Thursday, so the world should wait till Week 1 to see the four-time NFL MVP don the black and gold. The Steelers have break up their two preseason video games so far, beating the Jaguars in Week 1 and falling to the Buccaneers in Week 2. In the meantime, the Panthers have been one of many worst groups within the preseason, dropping to the Browns and Texans by a mixed rating of 50-13. They’re the one group with only one landing by way of the primary two weeks of preseason. Each beginning quarterback Bryce Younger and backup Andy Dalton will sit out Thursday’s sport, leaving Jack Plummer and newly signed Bryce Perkins, the reigning UFL MVP, at quarterback for Carolina. “Even when Tomlin sits backup QB Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh ought to have an edge with the skilled Skylar Thompson adopted by Logan Woodside,” Hartstein says.
Patriots at Giants
Time: 8 p.m. | Location: East Rutherford, N.J. | TV: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Skilled: Patriots +6.5 (R.J. White)
Two of essentially the most spectacular groups of August shut out their preseason schedule when the New York Giants host the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Each groups are 2-0, with the Patriots having outscored their opponents by 38 factors and the Giants having crushed their foes by 28. New England, nevertheless, has performed two groups (Commanders and Vikings) that largely rested their starters. There isn’t a indication but how a lot enjoying time New York’s starters will see within the preseason finale. “Backside line, the Patriots backups on offense have been too stable in opposition to deep Commanders and Vikings defenses to be catching this many factors even when the Giants starters get extra run than anticipated,” White says.
Extra NFL greatest bets
MLB greatest bets, the place to look at
Pink Sox at Yankees
Time: 7:15 p.m. | Location: New York | Watch: Fox | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Mannequin: Yankees cash line -144 | Skilled: Yankees -1.5 +150 (Bruce Marshall)
In third place within the division simply final week, the Yankees have overtaken the Pink Sox for second within the AL East with their latest surge. Ben Rice has led the best way throughout the five-game successful streak, hitting .350, slugging .750 and posting a 1.208 OPS. On Thursday, Rice and the Yankees will sq. off in opposition to Giolito, who, Marshall notes, has a 6.30 ERA in his final 4 begins away from Fenway Park. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin, which simulates each MLB sport 10,000 occasions, says New York has a 59% probability to win and provides a “B” grade to Yankees cash line at -144.
Astros at Orioles
Time: 7:15 p.m. | Location: Baltimore | TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Mannequin: Orioles +1.5 -195 | Skilled: Astros cash line +100 (Marshall)
Six days after almost pitching an ideal sport in opposition to the Astros, Orioles rookie righty Brandon Younger faces Houston once more, this time at Camden Yards. On Friday, Younger took an ideal sport into the eighth inning earlier than dropping it on an infield single with two outs. On Thursday, he’ll face an injury-riddled Astros group that’s within the midst of its worst offensive hunch in 40 years. Houston has been shut out in 4 of its final six video games, has scored six runs complete and has gone 1-5 over that stretch. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin says that Baltimore has a 70% probability to cowl on the run line and provides a “B” grade to Orioles +1.5 (-195). Marshall, nevertheless, likes the Astros on the cash line due to starter Jason Alexander, who has a 1.00 ERA in three August begins. Houston has gained every of his final 4 outings.
Extra MLB greatest bets
WNBA greatest bets, the place to look at
Sky at Liberty
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Brooklyn | Watch: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Skilled: Sky +15.5 -112 (Max Meyer) and Sky first half +8.5 -105 (Meyer)
Probably the greatest groups within the WNBA meets one of many worst when the New York Liberty host the Chicago Sky at Barclays Middle. The defending WNBA champions Liberty (22-13) are tied with the Dream for the second-best report within the league. They’re coming off an 85-75 win over the Lynx, the group with the very best report within the WNBA. In the meantime the Sky (8-26) have the second-worst report within the league, higher than solely the Solar. Chicago has misplaced 5 in a row and 13 of its previous 14. Nonetheless, Meyer notes Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins are again for the Sky and that New York has not gained a sport by greater than 11 factors since Breanna Stewart final performed on July 26. Stewart has been dominated out once more for Thursday.
Mercury at Aces
Time: 10 p.m. | Location: Las Vegas | Watch: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (begin watching, save $20!)
SportsLine decide — Skilled: A’ja Wilson Over 36.5 factors + rebounds -106 (Meyer)
The red-hot Las Vegas Aces will attempt to hold their successful streak alive once they host the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob ULTRA Area. The Aces (22-14) have gained a league-best eight in a row. They’ve climbed into fifth place within the WNBA standings, simply proportion factors behind the fourth-place Mercury (21-13). Las Vegas has been carried by A’ja Wilson, who ranks second within the league in scoring (22.9 factors per sport) and rebounding (10.0) and leads the WNBA in blocks (2.2). Meyer notes in two video games in opposition to Phoenix this season, Wilson has had 30 factors and 16 rebounds and 26 factors and 18 rebounds. “The Mercury do not actually have the perfect participant to defend Wilson (to be truthful, not many groups do), and he or she’s been capable of torch them in two upset wins,” he says.
