Red Sox Will Face Rejuvenated MVP Slugger In Yankees Series
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The Boston Red Sox will encounter one of baseball's hottest hitters when playing a four-game series against the New York Yankees.
Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton remain on the shelf, but the Yankees have another former MVP in the midst of a heater. Paul Goldschmidt continued his dominant June by hitting two home runs in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Despite Ben Rice's emergence, the Yankees somewhat surprisingly brought back Goldschmidt for another year after he batted a solid .274/.328/.403 in 2025. They should be thankful for that decision now that the 38-year-old has discovered the Fountain of Youth.
Goldschmidt is batting .346 with eight home runs this month. The first baseman hit .179 through April but since ranks eighth among qualified hitters with a .957 OPS.
The five-time Silver Slugger now boasts his best weighted runs created plus (155 wRC+) since his 2022 MVP campaign. Goldschmidt began the year in a part-time role, but he's forced his way to regular reps by slashing .297/.355/.568 through 211 plate appearances.
Making matters worse for the Red Sox, Goldschmidt will receive opportune matchups for most of the four-game series.
Boston is scheduled to start left-handers Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett in the first three games. Goldschmidt leads the majors with a preposterous 1.304 OPS and 257 wRC+ against southpaws this season.
Goldschmidt demonstrated that skill by going yards in his first two at-bats against two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal on Wednesday. He could again bat leadoff in each of the next three games for a Yankees lineup slugging an MLB-best .455 against lefties.
Thursday's rivalry game between the Red Sox and Yankees starts at 7:10 p.m. ET.
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