Boston has its back against the wall in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series, and I'm expecting a pitcher's duel in my Red Sox vs. Yankees prop picks.
The first pitch between Boston Red Sox ace Sonny Gray and Max Fried flies tonight at 8 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium, with a trip to the ALDS on the line for the New York Yankees. The Tampa Bay Rays are waiting patiently.
Tap into all of my MLB picks — as well as Chris Hatfield's Red Sox vs. Yankees predictions — for today's slate, and let's keep building our bankroll on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Best Red Sox vs Yankees props
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
| Pick | Probability |
|---|---|
 Max Fried Over 5.5 strikeouts |
47% |
 Sonny Gray Over 5.5 strikeouts |
46% |
| Ben Rice 2+ total bases |
42% |
Prop pick #1: Max Fried Over 5.5 strikeouts
The playoffs haven't necessarily been kind to Max Fried, who got lit up by the Blue Jays the last time he touched a postseason mound. However, with a deep-rooted rivalry opposite the Boston Red Sox, I expect Fried to bounce back against a team he's striking out at a 26% clip across 145 plate appearances.
Who am I looking at to be the victims tonight? Trevor Story (39% K rate), Ceddanne Rafaela (33%), and Jarren Duran (37%) will all be in tough shape come Game 2.
Prop pick #2: Sonny Gray Over 5.5 strikeouts
Yes, we're looking at a pitcher's duel with Sonny Gray on the mound for the visitors, and he's striking the New York Yankees out at a 24% clip (26% whiff rate) over 161 career at-bats against him in this matchup.
After Game 1, the Boston bullpen is fully exposed, so don't be surprised if he gets left in with the season on the line. Working with that much volume, Gray should reach six strikeouts tonight.
More MLB playoff predictions today
Prop pick #3: Ben Rice 2+ total bases
Ben Rice is undoubtedly the hottest hitter in this Yankees lineup and has a strong history against Gray. Even though it's a smaller sample size, it's something to draw from, as Rice is 3-for-7 with two homers (.810 xSLG) against the Red Sox righty.
With a 4-for-5 night (including a grand slam) under his belt in Game 1, expect Rice to do more damage if Boston actually pitches to him.
- Prop picks: 1-2, -0.82 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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