New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox Rivalry: Which Team Will Win The AL East In 2017?

While the Boston Red Sox (69-49) have a four-game lead on the New York Yankees (59-52) in a tight American League East, the division may very well be up for grabs. The two rivals will face each other 10 times, including a three-game series at Yankee Stadium starting Friday.

According to oddsmakers, the Yankees and Red Sox share the exact same odds (4/1) of winning the AL pennant. Both sides can make a strong case as to why they will clinch the division.

Why The Red Sox Will Win The AL East

With the lead in the standings and lots of positives going forward, John Farrell's squad should be in good shape. Rookie third baseman Rafael Devers adds a big spark to a lineup that finally looks ready for a resurgence. In the 2016 season, Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez combined for 123 home runs. This year? They've totaled just 60. At least one of those five stars will break out over the coming weeks to provide a much-needed boost in run production.

Chris Sale is the Cy Young frontrunner and he's backed by a solid bullpen that includes Craig Kimbrel, one of the game's best closers. Should David Price regain his top form, Boston should be the frontrunner to not only win the division but capture the American League pennant.

The Yankees are dealing with the inevitable slump from rookie Aaron Judge. The 25-year-old slugger was due for a dip in production after an explosive first three months of the season.

Why The Yankees Will Win The AL East

This is a new team after the trade deadline. Sonny Gray, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle added so much pitching depth to a staff that has mostly performed well. Ace Luis Severino has defied expectations with a 2.91 ERA and has been strong in seven of his last eight starts.

Added run production is probably on the way, as well. Catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Brett Gardner should break out of theirs slumps soon. On the injury front, Aaron Hicks is expected back in the lineup in the coming days, along with Starlin Castro and Greg Bird.

While the Yankees are looking healthy, it's hard to gauge whether Price can be effective for Boston. The Red Sox may need to get a big lift from at least one more starter to keep pace with New York.

The Yankees have the more favorable schedule. Seven of their 10 upcoming head-to-head matchups with the Red Sox will be played at home. The Yankees have 29 home games and 22 road games, while the Red Sox will have 25 at home and 24 on the road. Both teams will play the Cleveland Indians, but the Yankees aren't expected to face much of a challenge against the struggling New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros on their schedule.

Which Team Has The Overall Edge?

The Yankees. The AL East should come down to the wire and New York should do just enough to edge Boston because of the weaker schedule and improved run production. But expect Boston to finish with the best wild-card record.