Fansided

5 reasons the Yankees will finish ahead of the Red Sox

By Rucker Haringey

BOSTON - APRIL 11: Boston Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly and first baseman Mitch Moreland fight with the Yankees' Tyler Austin after he charged the mound in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees in a regular season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on April 11, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - APRIL 11: Boston Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly and first baseman Mitch Moreland fight with the Yankees' Tyler Austin after he charged the mound in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees in a regular season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on April 11, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 1: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals on May 1, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 1: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals on May 1, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

5. Jackie Bradley Jr. can’t hit

It’s not a secret that Jackie Bradley Jr. struggles at the plate. This season has been even worse normal for the athletic outfielder though. He comes into the series with a putrid batting average of just .178.

It’s not as if he’s been a .300 hitter for his career either. His career high batting average is just .267. We’re not talking about Wade Boggs going through a brief slump here. The dye is cast, Bradley is just a weakness for Boston at the plate.

Fortunately, he still provides the Red Sox terrific value defensively. That’s the only reason he’s still in Boston’s lineup every day. He’s split time between right and center field this season but he can handle either spot. It’s worth noting that his performance in center is starting to slip a little.

Playing a weak hitter early in the regular season is something Boston can get around. His inability to hit when things get tight later in the season will only be magnified. The fact that the Red Sox will likely stick with Bradley Jr. all season long gives the Yankees one clear advantage in this matchup.

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