Schadenfreude 232 (A Continuing Series)

Coley Harvey, ESPN:

A harsh reality is beginning to set in for the New York Yankees: This might not be their year to win the American League East.

As they continue to trudge through a second half that so far has been defined by mediocrity -- they are 6-8 since the All-Star break -- the odds of them winning the division and locking up a postseason spot that won't require a one-game playoff are looking slimmer and slimmer. ...

Completely outclassed by the Boston Red Sox in the first two games ... a pair of similar showings Saturday and Sunday could all but solidify a second-place AL East finish and a second straight wild-card berth. ...

The stakes will be high [on Saturday]. [Chance] Adams will [make his major league debut] when the Yankees are in must-win mode. ...

If he doesn't [pitch well], suddenly that division deficit could swell to 8.5 games, and the Yankees would be confronted with the possibility of a sweep -- and a mountainous 9.5-game Boston lead -- heading into Sunday Night Baseball ...

"I think it -- I know, it'll turn around," Boone said. "We're going to end up having a really great season." ...

[T]he AL East clock is ticking.

George A. King III, Post:

[Luis] Severino gave up three runs in the home first to put the Yankees in a shallow grave they couldn't dig out of against Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello, who gave up one hit ... in a complete-game effort.

Those three first-inning runs, two supplied by Steve Pearce's fourth homer in two nights, led to a 4-1 Red Sox win witnessed by a sold-out Fenway Park crowd of 37,231 thirsty for Yankees blood and anticipating a four-game sweep.

It was the ... Yankees' third consecutive loss and dropped them 7.5 games back of the division-leading Red Sox, who are 77-34. ...

[Severino] settled down after the rocky first frame, but the dead bats didn't give him a chance ...

Andujar's 14th homer in the third and Porcello hitting Brett Gardner to start the game accounted for the Yankees' only base runners. The one hit was a season low for the Yankees.

Kristie Ackert, Daily News:

Chance Adams will be called up from Triple-A to make his major league debut Saturday at Fenway.

That's a lot to put in the hands of a 23-year-old who has not exactly been dominating in the minors ...

After undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow last offseason, Adams has suffered through a drop in velocity and endurance.

According to a scout who watched three of Adams' starts this season, he consistently loses velocity, starting out around 95 miles an hour and then working mostly between 89-92 mph on his fastball. ...

[The Yankees'] plans for the postseason are now on shaky ground ...

Joel Sherman, Post:

Luis Severino was strafed for three runs and dispensed 33 pitches in the first inning and was still around in the bottom of the sixth.

This is what the Yankees are reduced to now — moral victories. Because actual victories are going to be downright difficult to produce this weekend at Fenway Park. ...

Austin Romine said of Severino: "Other than the [home run, a two-run shot by Steve Pearce in the first], I thought this was his best outing of the last three or four." But by those old baseball rules, that two-run homer actually counted.

And, yeah, Rick Porcello held the Yankees to one hit, but Boone mentioned the Yankees had "a lot of good at-bats against" the righty. Of the five hardest-hit balls in Friday night's game, the Yankees had four — so they won in top-end exit velocity 4-1.

But, you know, the Red Sox won the game 4-1, which tends to count for a lot more. ...

Boston leads the division by 7.5 games, having won 21-of-26 overall. The Red Sox are on pace for 112 wins. ...

[T]he Yankees ... do not seem to belong on the same field with the rampaging Red Sox ... who are having one of those seasons tinged by deep talent and inexplicable baseball magic.