Shades of 1978, the Yankees visit Boston for one game to determine which team continues their season. New York sends Gerrit Cole against Nathan Eovaldi. Cole finished sixth in the majors and second in the AL in pitching fWAR and is an excellent Cy Young Award Candidate. The pitcher who finished third the majors in fWAR and first in the AL is Nathan Eovaldi. I hear very little talk about Eovaldi winning the pitching award. Cole’s ERA is half a run lower, but Eovaldi did better at preventing walks and much better at preventing home runs. Note that Eovaldi does not finish in the top ten in the majors in rWAR. rWAR tends to be more results oriented (ERA > FIP).

Needless to say, this game is a match-up of two of the best pitchers in the league. The Red Sox hit Cole well the four times they faced him, posting a .279/.340/.512 slash line. Boston saved most of the on-base for the bases empty situations, and most of the power for when men were on base.

Eovaldi posted a 2-2 record against the Yankees, but in six starts. Seven of the 15 runs he allowed to New York came in his last contest against New York. Almost all the damage the Yankees did against him came with the bases empty.

The game is scheduled for an 8 PM EDT start on ESPN. Enjoy!