MLB Odds: BoSox, Yanks battle in Bronx

The Boston Red Sox are still in desperation mode as they continue their four-game series at New York against the Yankees as part of ESPN's Sunday Night telecast.

Boston is battered and bruised with numerous injuries. First baseman Kevin Youkilis (thumb) is gone for the season and second baseman Dustin Pedroia (foot) is out at least another week.

The Red Sox won the Friday night opener 6-3 behind Clay Buchholz, but still need to win at least three games during this series. The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total.

New York is neck-and-neck with Tampa Bay for the AL East lead. The loser has a big leg up on the wild-card, which is why Boston is so desperate. The Yankees have injury problems of their own, as starting pitcher Andy Pettitte (groin) and first baseman Nick Johnson (wrist) are both out.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman was aggressive at the trading deadline, picking up Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns. It's been a tough start for all three since arriving in the Big Apple.

The Yankees' pitching has struggled at home since the All-Star break. They're allowing 5.84 runs per game, helping the ‘over' go 9-2-2.  

A.J. Burnett, the poster boy for inconsistency, pitches for New York on Sunday. He was terrible in June (0-5, 11.35 ERA), but much better in July (3-1, 2.00 ERA). His one bad July start was against Tampa Bay (four earned runs in just two innings).

The 33-year-old righty thought he turned the corner until last Monday when he allowed seven runs in the fifth inning at home against Toronto en route to an 8-6 loss. New York is 1-4 in his last five home starts and 0-7 in his last seven AL East outings.

Burnett (9-9, 4.93 ERA) has two starts at Boston this year (10.61 ERA) His last home start against them was last August when he out-dueled Josh Beckett by allowing one hit through 7 2/3 scoreless innings.

Beckett (3-1, 5.70 ERA) will oppose his old Florida Marlins teammate once again. He's 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA since coming back from a back injury that sidelined him for two months.

The 30-year-old right-hander was awful in eight starts before the injury (7.29 ERA). The weight of his contract extension didn't help, but he was also pitching poorly.

Beckett has three starts versus the Yankees this year (10.43 ERA), but they all occurred before the injury. He averaged 100 pitches and less than five innings as New York ran up his pitch count. The ‘over' is 4-0 in Beckett's last four starts against New York.

New York leads this year's season series 5-4. Boston is 2-1 at Yankee Stadium this year after losing its last seven there in 2009.

Umpire Mike Winters will call balls and strikes. The Red Sox are 1-4 in their last five games with Winters behind home plate. The ‘over' is 5-0 in his last five games behind the dish.

First pitch Sunday night is 5:00 p.m. (PT) and the weather should be beautiful and in the upper 70s.

The series will conclude on Monday afternoon with Boston's Jon Lester going against Dustin Moseley.