The Series Ahead: Yankees @ Red Sox

Yankees - Red Sox
@ Fenway Park
3 Games

Well folks, Opening Night is finally here as the Yankees begin their defense of #27 in Boston against the hated Red Sox. A good start to the season has been something that has alluded the Yankees since 2004, and as we know, last year, the Red Sox began the season winning the first eight meetings between these two teams. While the Yankees eventually proved it didn't matter, I'd still like to see the Yankees get off to a better start in 2010 starting tonight in Fenway.

These teams are stacked, and should once again spend the next six months battling it out (with the Rays) for the division.

Both starting rotations rank at the top in baseball, and we'll get a large dose of that in this series with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, facing off against Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey. I'll give the Yanks the edge in the opener, but, as much as I hate to say it, I have to give the Sox the edge in games 2 and 3. However, overall I give a slight edge to the Yankees, mainly because the Sox still have no idea what they're going to get from Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is once again on the DL. Don't expect things to get much easier for these lineups once they get past the starters, because both teams also have very good bullpens, probably two of the best in baseball.

Offensively, I give the edge to the Yankees, even with the loss of Damon and Matsui. To me, the Yankees still have the best lineup in the game, and when guys like Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher (who hit 29 HR last year) are batting 7th and 8th it's hard to argue against that. As long as the Yankees stay healthy, they will hit, and hit well. The Red Sox, while still loaded offensively, might not be the offensive powerhouse they've been in recent years. I think the key to the Boston offense will be David Ortiz, and how he responds to his sub par 2009 season. If he can have a bounce back year, the Sox offense would go from very good to very dangerous.

Both teams focused on improving their team defensive this winter, and both succeeded. By adding Curtis Granderson and inserting Brett Gardner into the starting lineup, the Yankees should field one of their best defensive teams in a long time. Boston, with the additions of Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro should also see that area of their game improve tremendously.

These two teams, like always, are very evenly matched, so expect a good series.

Here are some of the new faces to the rivalry for the 2010 season:

Yankees: Curtis Granderson, Nick Johnson, Javy Vazquez, Marcus Thames, Chan Ho Park, and Randy Winn.

Red Sox: Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Marco Scutaro, Adrian Beltre, Bill Hall, Jeremy Hermida and Scott Schoeneweis.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 8:05 p.m. | TV: YES, ESPN | Radio: WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia vs. RHP Josh Beckett

Game 2: Tuesday @ 7:10 p.m. | TV: YES, MLBN | Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett vs. LHP Jon Lester

Game 3: Wednesday @ 7:10 p.m. | TV: YES, ESPN2 | Radio: WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte vs. RHP John Lackey

Injury Report

YANKEES

• Damaso Marte, RP: Day-to-day with a bad back. Should be able to pitch this series.

RED SOX

• Boof Bonser, RP/SP: 15-day DL with a right groin strain.
• Jed Lowrie, INF: 15-day DL with mononucleosis.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP: 15-day DL with a neck strain.
• Junichi Tazawa, RHP: 60-day DL after having right elbow surgery.