AL Wild Card Game 2021: Yankees vs. Red Sox Odds and Fantasy Picks
The 2021 MLB postseason kicks off with one of the game's fiercest rivalries.
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees both survived a chaotic American League Wild Card race on Sunday to secure their places in the one-off matchup.
On Tuesday, the AL East rivals will go head-to-head in the winner-takes-all Wild Card Game, with the winner going on to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series.
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New York swept Boston at Fenway Park, which is the venue for the AL Wild Card Game, last weekend to put itself in a good position to qualify for the postseason.
The Yankees have won their last six regular-season games against the Red Sox, but Boston finished on top of the regular-season series by a 10-9 margin thanks to an abundance of wins in June and July.
AL Wild Card Game Odds
Run Line: New York Yankees (-1.5)
Money Line: New York Yankees (-120; bet $120 to win $100); Boston (+100; bet $100 to win $100)
Over/Under: 8.5
Fantasy Picks
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, New York
Giancarlo Stanton is one of a few players in Tuesday night's matchup who can alter the complexion of the game with a single swing.
The 31-year-old did just that in his last meeting with Nathan Eovaldi, who will oppose Gerrit Cole on Tuesday.
Stanton mashed a three-run home run in the third inning on September 24 to double the three-run advantage the Yankees entered the frame with. He turned in three multi-hit games during the sweep at Fenway Park and hit a long ball in each of those contests.
The Yankees outfielder cooled off a bit in the final week of the regular season, but his recent power surge at Fenway Park can't be overlooked.
The September 24 home run was the second in Stanton's career off Eovaldi. He is 4-of-17 with two home runs and five RBI in his career versus the Boston right-hander.
Stanton and Aaron Judge, who is 6-of-10 against Eovaldi, will be the top two New York fantasy targets for the Wild Card Game.
Stanton's recent success in Boston and his ability to drive in multiple runs in an instant should make him one of the first selections in a daily fantasy lineup from both rosters.
Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston
Rafael Devers had plenty of success against Cole in four regular-season meetings. He hit three home runs and drove in eight players in 11 at-bats against the Yankees ace.
Most of that success occurred inside Fenway Park, which is a promising sign for the Red Sox's chances on Tuesday night.
The Dominican hit a three-run blast off Cole in their last meeting on September 24 and struck two home runs off him on July 24 inside his home ball park.
The Yankees pitcher conceded 11 earned runs in three starts at Fenway Park this season, and he gave up one earned run on five hits in his lone appearance against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Devers comes into the postseason on a four-game hitting streak. He finished the regular season by going 4-of-5 with two home runs against the Washington Nationals. The last of those two secured a playoff spot for the Red Sox.
As Boston's best hitter against Cole this season, Devers should be the most popular DFS pick from the roster. He could be partnered with Stanton in some lineups, which would require using one or two low-salary options to balance out the perfect DFS squad.
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