Preview of Saturday’s Yankees vs. Red Sox matchup featuring a pitching duel between Boston’s Brayan Bello and New York’s Gerrit Cole. Bello has been dominant in the second half of the season, while Cole is in top form heading into the postseason. With both teams relying on their starters and inconsistent bullpens, this game promises to be a classic rivalry showdown. Read the full breakdown of pitching trends, key stats, and predictions for this AL East battle.
The storied rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox is set for another chapter on Saturday, and all eyes will be on the mound.
Two of the most exciting pitchers in the American League, Boston’s Brayan Bello and New York’s Gerrit Cole, will square off in what promises to be a high-stakes game at Yankee Stadium.
Brayan Bello's Rising Star
Brayan Bello, the 25-year-old rising star for the Red Sox, has been in impressive form during the second half of the season.
Since the start of July, Bello has posted a 6-2 record, backed by his ability to strike out nine batters per nine innings.
A key to his recent success? His mastery of his secondary pitches.
Bello’s refined usage of his changeup and slider has baffled hitters, particularly left-handers, as he racks up more swings and misses.
In seven career starts against the Yankees, Bello boasts a sterling 2.66 ERA, making him a familiar and tough opponent for the Bronx Bombers.
One of Bello’s trademarks is his heavy-breaking ball, which forces opponents to hit ground balls 52% of the time.
This could play right into his hands, as the Yankees are tied for the seventh-highest ground ball rate in the majors this year.
Gerrit Cole’s Postseason Push
On the other side of the diamond, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is cruising toward the postseason.
Cole has been nearly untouchable despite suffering a tough-luck loss on his birthday last week—where he gave up zero earned runs.
In his seven starts since a rare meltdown on July 24 against the Mets, Cole has posted a microscopic 1.58 ERA.
Cole will be looking for some redemption after his team let him down in his last outing.
The Yankees’ ace has been a consistent bright spot in a season filled with ups and downs for New York, and he’ll be aiming to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Betting on the Aces
While neither bullpen has been particularly reliable this season, the strength of both teams lies in the arms of their starters.
Bello and Cole have shown they can pitch deep into games, and with the intensity of a Yankees-Red Sox rivalry on the line, expect both to be at their best.
With two elite pitchers set to take the mound and plenty of history between the two clubs, Saturday’s game is shaping up to be a classic battle of arms in the Bronx.
The Yankees will be eager to give Cole the run support he needs, while Bello will look to continue his dominance against New York.