Yankees, awaiting Giancarlo Stanton's return, open series in Boston

The visiting New York Yankees will be looking to extend a three-game winning streak when they open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night -- and they might have Giancarlo Stanton back in action this weekend.

Several reports this week indicated that the 35-year-old designated hitter could make his season debut for the Yankees during the Boston series. Stanton has been on the injured list all season while dealing with tendinitis in both elbows, a condition he played through during the second half of last season.

Stanton played in rehab games with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, going 3-for-11 with a double and four RBIs.

Before the Yankees' 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, New York manager Aaron Boone said no decision had been made on whether Stanton would be activated this weekend.

The Yankees, who are atop the American League East standings, are coming off a three-game sweep at Kansas City. The Royals finished 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the series.

New York is 18-7 in its last 25 games, and its 21-13 road record is the best in the major leagues.

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. sustained a groin injury during the Wednesday game and didn't play on Thursday. He has a team-high 10 stolen bases in 38 games this season.

"The trainers had (Chisholm) down as emergency-only," Boone said. "I would expect him to start (Friday) or at least be a player off the bench."

The Red Sox won two of three games against the Yankees in New York last weekend. Boston then won two out of three against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays -- the first time the Red Sox won consecutive series since early May.

"We're getting that good feeling," Boston manager Alex Cora said following his team's 4-3 victory on Wednesday. "We won the series in New York, we won this one (against Tampa Bay), two rivals, two good teams, now enjoy the off day and be ready for Friday."

Rookie Marcelo Mayer, who was selected No. 4 overall in the 2021 draft, hit two solo home runs in the Wednesday victory.

"This team shows a lot of fight," Mayer said. "I think we played a really good game on Monday (a 10-8, 11-inning loss), and we came back and won two in a row. I think that shows how good of a team we can be when we put both sides of the ball together."

Friday's probable starters are a pair of left-handers: New York's Ryan Yarbrough (3-1, 4.17 ERA) and Boston's Garrett Crochet (6-4, 2.35). Those two were also the starters when Boston earned a 10-7 victory over New York on Saturday.

Yarbrough allowed eight runs on nine hits in four innings and took the loss in that game. He is 5-5 with a 7.65 ERA in 21 career appearances (10 starts) against the Red Sox.

Crochet was credited with the win against New York despite giving up a season-high five runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out nine and walked one. Crochet is 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in four career appearances (one start) against the Yankees.

--Field Level Media