Friday MLB Odds Preview: Brewers in Bronx

The surprising National League Central leaders, the Milwaukee Brewers, head to the Bronx on Friday night to kick off a weekend set with the New York Yankees.

The Brewers were supposed to have an off-day Thursday, but instead made a quick stop in Chicago to play a makeup game against the Cubs. Before that game, Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, part of six wins in their last seven games.

The Yankees are spinning their wheels right now at 1-4 in their last five and 3-6 in their last nine. On Friday New York will start rookie Jordan Montgomery (6-4, 3.62), while Junior Guerra (1-3, 4.93) gets the start for Milwaukee.

Montgomery is coming off a no decision against the Houston Astros in which he allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings. He has been better at home this season, with a 3-1 record and 3.73 ERA in seven starts.

Guerra hasn’t recorded a win since May 31 and surrendered four runs in four innings to take the loss against the Miami Marlins in his last start.

The Yankees are 5-2 in their last seven games against Milwaukee and the last time they hosted the Brewers they swept the three-game series, outscoring them 22-4.

In an American League East clash, meanwhile, rivals meet up as the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays continue a four-game set.

Heading into Thursday’s series opener the Red Sox were 6-1 in their last seven games. Tampa Bay returned home after an eight-game road trip that saw them go 4-4, with three of those wins coming as the underdog at the Bovada Sportsbook

The scheduled pitching matchup Friday night is Drew Pomeranz (8-4, 3.64) for Boston and Jake Odorizzi (5-3, 4.08) for Tampa Bay.

Pomeranz is 5-1 in his last eight starts and was sharp in his last outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, holding the Jays to one run over six innings. He has had trouble with the Rays this season and in two starts against them he’s 0-1 with an 8.59 ERA.

Odorizzi picked up a win over the Orioles last time out after allowing three runs in five innings. In his lone start against Boston this season he departed after only one inning due to injury. In 14 career starts versus Boston he is 3-3 with a 4.08 ERA.

The Red Sox and Rays have clashed seven times this season with Boston leading the season series 4-3. Boston was favored in every game at the Bovada Sportsbook, and in their last seven games in Tampa Bay they are 5-2 with only one win coming as the underdog.