Sox, Yanks try to jump-start seasons in Bronx

When we last left the Yankees and the Red Sox, it was the bottom of the ninth of Game 4 of their American League Division Series last October, and the Sox were trying to win that series at Yankee Stadium the way they had already clinched the American League East in the Bronx. They had been leading Game 4 all night, and led 4-1 in the ninth. But then Craig Kimbrel had once again turned the end of the night into a theme-park ride, which kind of became Kimbrel's thing last October.

Gary Sánchez had nearly hit one out for the Yankees that would have won the game. The Yankees' season ended when Eduardo Núñez, who has never been compared to Nolan Arenado, scooped up a slow roller from Gleyber Torres and snapped off a low throw to an outstretched Steve Pearce, who has never been known for his fielding, either. That was the last out of a 4-3 Boston win. Now, six months later, the two teams get ready to resume their rivalry on Tuesday night, early in a season that was once again supposed to feel like ultimate fighting every time they played each other.

Except.

Except that both teams, mostly in cold weather, have been a hot mess so far. The Red Sox's starting pitching has been terrible, as the group has a combined ERA of 7.18 even when you include the strong outings from Eduardo Rodriguez on Friday night and David Price on Sunday afternoon.

• Red Sox, Yanks turn to rivalry to reverse course

Except that the Yankees have sent just about everybody and everything in the Stadium except the monuments in Monument Park to the injured list, a situation that has provided cover for the way their starting pitchers have pitched so far. That's why CC Sabathia's performance against the White Sox on Saturday afternoon was treated like the greatest pitching event for the pinstripers since Don Larsen's perfect game.

The Yankees come into the series against Boston at 6-9.

The Red Sox come into the series at 6-11, and are a few rousing swings from Mitch Moreland away from being worse than that.

If you are keeping score at home, that is a combined record was 12-20. Both teams, believe it or not, currently trail the rebuilding Orioles in the AL East, not to mention the Tampa Bay Rays, who have actually looked like the kind of team the Red Sox and Yankees were supposed to be. The Sox show up in New York having just split a four-game series at home vs. the Orioles. The Yankees just lost two of three at home to the White Sox.

"We have people who are capable, it is just a combination of, yes, are we hurt? We are hurt, but we are still capable," Brian Cashman said on Friday night, before the Yankees lost an ugly rain-shortened game to the White Sox. "But we have a lot of poor play going on simultaneously on the current active roster."

Cashman could have been talking about both teams. The Red Sox began their season with a trip through Seattle, Oakland and Phoenix that saw them come home with a 3-8 record. The Yankees? They got a pillow fight of a schedule before going to Houston to play the Astros and getting themselves swept. They lost two of three at home to the Orioles. Then they lost two of three to the Tigers. Now they lose their series to the White Sox with the guy who is their current ace -- Masahiro Tanaka -- giving up a grand slam to Tim Anderson. Yeah, a lot of poor play going around at what was supposed to be the top of the division again, and hasn't been anything close.

Of course the Yankees have been hit by injuries as if being hit by a two-by-four: Giancarlo Stanton is hurt. So is Miguel Andújar. So is Luis Severino, who was supposed to be their ace. And Dellin Betances. And Aaron Hicks. And Troy Tulowitzki, whom they signed to be their shortstop while they wait for Didi Gregorius to recover from Tommy John surgery, ended up on the IL, though given his injury woes over the last few years it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Even with all that, the Yanks should have a better record than they do, even with the guys they're playing. Except that most of their starters have pitched like they belong with the Red Sox. James Paxton, their big winter acquisition from the Mariners, is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA. J.A. Happ, who was their big summer acquisition last year and who they re-signed as a free agent, is 0-2, with an ERA of 8.76.

Maybe the sight of each other on the same field will rouse them over the next two nights at the Stadium. It's the only way to root. For now, ultimate fighting in the AL East has looked a lot more like mud wrestling.