The Yankees play 13 games from now until All Star Break; those 13 games consist of seven games against Seattle, three against Toronto, and three against Oakland. Very average teams for the Yanks.
The Bombers should take 10 of those 13 games, considering Seattle is in last place, and both Oakland and Toronto are third place teams.
On the other hand, the always pesky Red Sox play six games against Tampa Bay, three against Baltimore, and three against Toronto. While the Rays prove a tough series for Boston, Baltimore and Toronto are usually both winnable series for them.
Unfortunately, for Boston, they will be without their starting catcher Victor Martinez, who was placed on the 15-day DL, and their starting second baseman Dustin Pedroia for all of those games. They also might have to skip Clay Buchholz next start due to injury.
Though Boston’s injuries deeply sadden me, the Yankees could very easily put some major distance between them and their rival by taking advantage of their misfortunes.
My prediction is that the Rays are going to win both series against the Sox; two out of three in Boston and a sweep in Tampa.
Toronto will be a handful for the hobbled Sox as well, and might win two out of three against them since it is being played north of the border.
As far as Baltimore, my high school baseball team could probably beat them so a few Sox on the DL isn’t going to hurt their chances of winning.
The Red Sox have already climbed out of an early hole this season and are just two games back of the Yankees presently. If the Yanks can win at least 10 of their next 13 games, and get a little help from their AL East neighbors, they could put the Sox right back into that same hole they were in earlier in the season.
Posted by Rob Abruzzese 
The Bronx Baseball Daily 