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Rivalry Renewed: Yankees are back at Fenway

It’s that time of year again. The greatest rivalry in all of sports is back. Tonight, after rain postponed the opener, the Yankees and Red Sox square off at Fenway Park in the latest installment of their storied rivalry.

The Yankees are still without Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius, but can another young Yankee cement his place as the dominant starter he is supposed to be?

Facing Rick Porcello, the reigning American League CY Young winner, what will a strong performance from Luis Severino mean? Even though it’s only one game in April, it’s more than that whether you would like to believe it or not.

The Yankees enter Wednesday’s game at 11-7, which may be a bit better than most predicted, especially with arguably their two most important hitters out. The Red Sox sitting at 11-8, are perceived to have stumbled out of the gates a bit, with their $200 million dollar lefty David Price staring down the barrel of Tommy John surgery.

Severino has a gigantic opportunity tonight. To go out and shut down the Red Sox, after registering double digit strikeouts in his last two starts, would be another major boost not only for the Yankees but for his confidence and his 2017 comeback campaign.

With Sanchez and Didi out, and Bird, Gardner and Holliday struggling mightily at the plate, the Yanks will need a strong start out of Severino if these Yankee bats don’t wake up. Can Headley, Castro, Ellsbury and Judge continue to carry the Yanks through Boston?

One thing is for certain, this series will serve as a true litmus test for this Yankees team. After a quick two-game set in Boston, and then heading home to face off with the Orioles to end the month of April, we should have a better understanding as to just where this team really is.

Contender?

Pretender?

After a month of baseball, the jury may still be out, but the Judge is wearing pinstripes.

 

Follow me on Twitter, @JaredSaul