For most of the 20th century, the competition between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox was a lopsided affair. It was famously said that the contest was “between a hammer and a nail.” Generated by an infamous trade involving Babe Ruth, the rivalry between these two teams has defined generations of baseball in the Northeast. Now, as they prepare to meet for the first time this season, the roles seem familiar again. One team seems like a hammer, while the other like a nail. But the Yankees’ manager has a word of warning for his team – a wounded enemy is dangerous.

A three-game set is scheduled to start on Friday, June 6, in the Bronx. Driven by Aaron Judge, the Yankees have soared to the top of the AL East with a 38-23 record. By contrast, the Red Sox are a really wounded club. They limp into the Yankee Stadium with a losing 30-34 record, a whopping 9.5 games behind their rivals. Their problems are well-documented, since they lead the major leagues in one-run losses and defensive errors, signals of a team that cannot get the job done when it matters the most.

Following his team’s shutout victory over Cleveland on Thursday, Boone addressed the upcoming matchup. He didn’t dismiss his struggling rival. Instead, he delivered a calculated message to his clubhouse. “Obviously, it’s been a tough start for them, but a lot of close games that they’ve been on the wrong side of,” Boone told the media. This wasn’t pity; it was a warning sign he was flashing for his own players.

Boone continued, explaining exactly why his team cannot afford to be complacent. He knows the Red Sox have talent, despite their record. “We really viewed them in spring training and early in the season as, like, a really talented team,” the manager explained. “We know what they’re capable of and feel like that can still be a reality for them. We feel like a really good, hungry club is gonna be coming in here … I feel like they’re very dangerous.” The message is clear: ignore the standings and respect the opponent.

On the other side of the diamond, the Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged the challenge and the wide gap in the standings but stressed that he’s not surprised with New York’s performance.

“I’m not surprised at all. I think they’ve been doing that consistently for a lot of years,” Cora said, praising the Yankees’ pitching and organizational depth. Framing this series as a crucial reset for his struggling club, he further added, “We’ve just got to go over there and win the series.”

The players are feeling the buzz as well. Yankees newcomer Cody Bellinger is eager for his first taste of this rivalry. “I’m very excited about it,” he said. “I always think of that ’04 Red Sox team, and obviously you know about the rivalry… I’m sure the atmosphere is going to be really fun.”

Teammate Paul Goldschmidt compared the expected environment to the heated Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. So, the players are ready for the electric atmosphere. But will the Red Sox be able to pose a challenge to the Yankees?

Red Sox are out of form, but dangerous

Friday night’s series opener in New York offers quite an interesting pitching matchup with two arms looking to make a statement. The Yankees will send out rookie right-hander Will Warren (3-3, 5.19 ERA). He hopes to rebound from an ugly start against the Dodgers in which he gave up seven runs.

The Red Sox will respond with right-hander Walker Buehler (4-3, 4.44), who also had a tough last time out, allowing five earned runs. Both starters are struggling a bit, so Game 1 might turn into a slugfest.

On offense, all eyes will be on Aaron Judge. The Yankees captain is enjoying a season for the ages, ranking third in the majors with 21 homers. He is scorching hot at the moment, with six homers in his last twelve games.

For Boston, Rafael Devers is always a threat against the Pinstripes with 28 homers (and counting) against them in his career. The recently reinstated Jazz Chisholm has also provided a spark, collecting five hits in his first 11 at-bats since coming off the injured list.

While the Yankees lead with a run differential of +99, the Red Sox offense is not too shabby either. The Bronx Bombers lead the American League in runs scored with a total of 326, but Boston is third in the AL with 303 runs as well. That signals the Red Sox can still hit.

Boston’s downfall has been pitching and defense. But their offensive firepower makes them a volatile opponent, capable of an explosive outing at any moment. That’s what makes this rivalry a must-watch affair.