NY Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 6/9-6/11

GAME 1: A.J. Burnett, RHP (4-2, 4.69) @ BOS Josh Beckett, RHP (6-2, 4.09)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Part of the reason the Yankees signed A.J. Burnett this offseason was his success against the Red Sox -- and a rain delay Friday gave them an opportunity to push Burnett back for Tuesday's series opener in Boston. He is 5-0 with a 3.52 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox, though his last start at Fenway was his worst ever against the Sox, one in which he served up eight runs over five innings. Still, Burnett is coming off one of his best starts of the season -- seven innings, three runs and eight strikeouts against the offensive-minded Rangers. He will pitch on two extra days of rest.

Red Sox: Beckett turned in one of the finest performances of his career in his last start, pitching a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings. Over 7 1/3 innings, he allowed two hits and no earned runs, striking out nine. Beckett is on a roll, turning in a quality start in his last six outings. This is Beckett's sixth start of the season at Fenway, where he is 2-0 with a 4.25 ERA. Beckett has pitched twice against the Yankees this season, going 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA.



GAME 2: Chien-Ming Wang, RHP (0-3, 14.46) @ Tim Wakefield, RHP (7-3, 4.50)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Before deciding to schedule Wang for last Thursday's game against the Rangers, the Yankees made sure to discuss the byproduct of that decision: Wang would also fall in line for a start against the Red Sox in Boston. Hardly pitching well enough to justify that faith, Wang allowed five runs to the Rangers over 4 2/3 innings at Yankee Stadium, flashing his old velocity but not his old results. Still, he is scheduled to start at Fenway Park, where he has posted a 3-3 record and 5.11 ERA over the course of his career.

Red Sox: The knuckleballer was strong in his last start, allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win over the Tigers. Wakefield walked none and struck out three en route to career victory No. 185. This is Wakefield's fifth start of the season at Fenway, where he is 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA. This is Wakefield's first start of the season against the Yankees. He has had mixed results against New York in his career, going 10-17 with a 5.03 ERA.


Game 3: CC Sabathia, LHP (5-3, 3.56) @ Brad Penny, RHP (5-2, 5.85)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Sabathia pitched better than his line indicated on Saturday vs. Tampa Bay, lamenting two bad pitches -- a changeup to Willy Aybar and a cutter to Ben Zobrist. Both landed beyond the outfield fences in New York as Sabathia took a no-decision in a 9-7 loss to the Rays, charged with five runs on five hits in an eight-inning, 102-pitch effort. There was discussion if Sabathia could have come back for the ninth, and certainly he has been able to go deep for the Yankees -- since pitching a complete game on May 8 at Baltimore, he has not gone any fewer than seven innings. This will be his first start as a Yankee vs. the Red Sox -- he is 2-4 with a 3.91 ERA in seven career starts vs. Boston.

Red Sox: Penny was cruising in his last start, pitching a shutout through four, when one bad inning ruined his night. He mislocated a fastball to Ian Kinsler, and the second baseman hammered it over the Green Monster to cap a four-run fifth inning. Penny took a 5-1 loss. In five starts at Fenway this season, Penny is 3-1 with a 6.51 ERA. Opponents are hitting .309 against Penny on the season. This will be his first start against the Yankees in a Boston uniform. Penny has won his only career regular season start against New York, allowing three runs over five innings. He went 2-0 against the Bombers in the 2003 World Series, posting a 2.19 ERA over 12 1/3 innings.