Red Sox vs. Yankees Prediction: Game 3 AL Wild Card Preview

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will clash in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series at 8:08 p.m. ET on Thursday at Yankee Stadium on ESPN. The winner will earn a trip to the ALDS to face the Toronto Blue Jays.

To add even more drama to this rivalry showdown, both teams will be starting rookie pitchers. Right-hander Cam Schlittler gets the nod for New York after posting a 4-3 record with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts during the regular season.

Left-hander Connelly Early (1-2, 2.33 ERA) will make his fifth start for the Red Sox since debuting less than a month ago.

It marks the second time in MLB history that two rookie pitchers will start in a winner-take-all game in the postseason, joining Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS featuring Dustin May and Ian Anderson.

Here’s a look at the latest MLB odds and my Red Sox vs. Yankees prediction ahead of Game 3:

Red Sox vs. Yankees Odds for Game 3

• Red Sox moneyline: +135
• Yankees moneyline: -160
• Total: 7.5

Red Sox vs. Yankees Prediction for Game 3

I don’t have a favorite Red Sox vs. Yankees prediction based on the initial MLB betting lines, but I lean toward taking New York’s moneyline, especially if it drops a bit before first pitch.

This is a tough spot for Early, who has only pitched in two road games so far in his MLB career. Both those games were in minor-league ballparks against the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays.

I certainly understand the logic of going with a left-handed pitcher, as Garrett Crochet proved in Game 1 that southpaws can help mitigate some of the power toward the short porch in right field. Early also has plenty of potential as the Red Sox’s No. 6 prospect via MLB Pipeline.

Early has allowed two runs or fewer in all four starts thus far, posting a Stuff+ of 98.

But at some point, I’d expect the Yankees’ lineup to find success off him on Thursday night. That means there could be value in fading Early’s pitching props or taking the -102 price tag on the Yankees to score first.

What Boston manager Alex Cora does with the bullpen behind Early will be just as fascinating.

The Red Sox used six different relievers in Game 1, which included asking Garrett Whitlock to throw a season-high 47 pitches while getting five outs. Aroldis Chapman recorded a four-out save in Game 1.

Simply put, I believe there are more paths to a Yankees’ victory in Thursday’s finale.

Prediction: Yankees ML (-160)