Yanks vs Sox Preview: Battle of the Bullpens Heats Up

The Yankees roll into Fenway Park without some of their biggest bats. Aaron Judge, their superstar right fielder, is out with a stress fracture in his rib. He won't play again until late July at the earliest. Giancarlo Stanton's calf keeps bothering him too. Even with these guys sidelined, New York still sits at 47-31. They're 6-4 over their last ten games. The Yankees' pitching staff is their real weapon. Cam Schlittler takes the mound for New York. He impressed everyone during last year's postseason. This young arm could be special for the Yankees.

Boston is 32-45 this season. Ouch. At home in Fenway, it's even worse — the Red Sox are just 12-25 at their own ballpark. That's the kind of record that keeps you up at night. Connelly Early is Boston's starter for this game. The Red Sox are dealing with injury problems too. Their ace Garrett Crochet is still recovering from shoulder and lat issues. Trevor Story, their shortstop, just started jogging again. The Red Sox need wins badly. They're 4-6 over their last ten games. Every game matters when you're fighting to get back into it.

Cam Schlittler faces off against Connelly Early on Thursday night. These are young arms with something to prove. Schlittler impressed scouts and fans during last year's postseason. Now he's getting starts in the regular season. Early is Boston's chance to keep pace in a tough division. The Yankees' pitching staff could be elite if everyone stays healthy. Max Fried, their ace, is dealing with an elbow issue. Gerrit Cole might return later. For now, Schlittler carries the torch. This matchup is a classic battle of future stars.