Fresh off two straight losses to the Toronto Blue Jays, and losers in five of their past eight games, the Boston Red Sox head to New York for a three-game series with the Yankees, beginning Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
The last time these two teams met (yes, they've only played one series so far this season, somewhat amazingly) was back in early April, when the Red Sox were still 0-6, and desperate for a win. They got their first win of the 2011 season against Bartolo Colon and the Yankees in the series opener Friday night, and then took Sunday night's game, too.
Boston's improved since starting 2-10 -- they're 15-10 since then -- but the Sox are still in fourth place in the AL East, and still five games back from the first-place Rays (and four games behind the Yankees).
"Right now, it doesn't matter who we play," Pedroia told his team's website. "We're trying to find our way out of this. We want to be a lot better than what we've showed, that's obvious. Everyone cares. We'll figure it out."
The Sox (17-20) have a chance to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season with a sweep of the Yankees, which is not impossible with the way the rotation has lined up for Boston (read: no John Lackey).
The Red Sox and Yankees open their three-game series at Yankee Stadium Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Friday, May 13, 7:05 p.m. (NESN)
Clay Buchholz (3-3, 4.19) vs. Bartolo Colon (2-1, 3.86)
Saturday, May 14, 7:10 p.m. (FOX)
Josh Beckett (2-1, 1.99 ERA) vs. CC Sabathia (3-2, 2.89 ERA)
Sunday, May 15, 8:05 p.m. (ESPN)
Jon Lester (4-1, 2.96) vs. Freddy Garcia (2-2, 2.61)