Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2012 ) Boston 3, NY Yankees 2

The Boston Red Sox would have to sweep a three-game series at the rival New York Yankees just to get back to .500. Recent history suggests that will be a problem. The Yankees took three of four from the Texas Rangers this week and own the best record in the American League and a six-game cushion in the AL East. The Red Sox have dropped 10 of 15 this month and are 5-10 in their last 15 against New York.

Boston spent the week in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, with a Yahoo! Sports report detailing disharmony in the clubhouse and a meeting last month in which players reportedly lobbied ownership to fire manager Bobby Valentine. The Red Sox dropped two of three to the Baltimore Orioles this week and have lost four of the first seven on a 10-game road trip. David Ortiz (Achilles) has been out since July 17 and will miss the series. The Yankees have no such internal strife and are cruising toward homefield advantage in the playoffs. A setback on Thursday was just their second in the last nine games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Red Sox), YES (New York), MLB Network

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Franklin Morales (3-3, 3.29 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (11-10, 4.44)

Morales moved back into the starting rotation on Aug. 5 and has allowed a total of five hits in 11 1/3 innings over his two starts. The converted reliever has, however, issued seven walks and took a loss at Cleveland last weekend after handing out four free passes which led to three runs. Morales was crushed in a start against New York back on July 5, allowing six runs and six hits - including four home runs - over 3 1/3 innings. He threw two scoreless innings of relief against the Yankees on July 27.

Hughes has not been sharp of late, getting torched for 11 runs and 17 hits in 8 1/3 innings over his last two starts. The 26-year old surrendered seven runs at Toronto on Sunday and has been reached for 27 home runs in 135 2/3 innings this season. Hughes is 1-1 against the Red Sox this season and has traditionally struggled against Boston, posting a 3-6 record with a 6.17 ERA in 18 games (10 starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano (stiff neck) did not start in either of the past two games but appeared as a pinch hitter on Thursday. He is day-to-day.

2. Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez is on a tear lately, batting .403 with 24 RBIs in the last 18 games.

3. New York SS Derek Jeter is on a 12-game hitting streak.