Series Preview: Yankees @ Red Sox

The best rivalry in baseball resumes tonight as the Yankees head to Fenway Park to take on the first-place Red Sox. Both teams have won 5 out of their last 10 games, with the Red Sox trying to hold on to first place in the American League while their hated rivals try to catch Texas for the second wild-card spot and have a little more work to do when it comes to the east. With the biggest rivalry being played on the biggest stage (2 of the 3 games are nationally televised), Yankees vs Red Sox tickets will be more expensive than usual this weekend. Overall, the series average is $207, which is 92% higher than the Red Sox home average and 69% higher than the usual price paid for Yankees tickets on the road.

The average ticket for Friday is a hefty $213, which is nearly twice as much as the usual average price for Red Sox tickets at home $108) or for a Yankees tickets on the road ($123). However, fans can get into the ball park for only 21% of that figure, as a fan looking for cheaper seats will only have to pay $45 per ticket to see Andy Pettitte battle Felix Doubront at 7:10 PM.

Saturday’s game is more costly, with the average price being $240 and the cheapest ticket being $70 (29% of the average price). The game will be nationally televised on FOX at 4:05 PM, with all eyes on pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and John Lackey.

The biggest names will do battle on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball on July 21, as CC Sabathia takes on Jon Lester at 8:05 PM. Surprisingly, this is the cheapest game of the series, with the average being a very reasonable $180 and the cheapest seats listed at $42 per ticket (23% of the average).


The Red Sox and Yankees appear poised for another exciting stretch run as they prepare to battle for the division title during the final 3 months of the season. The world stops to watch when the Red Sox play the Yankees, and if you happen to be in the Boston area this weekend, you have the opportunity to witness 2 great teams face off with playoff implications—and bragging rights—on the line.

By Tommy Rothman