Red Sox-Yankees AL East showdown puts ESPN's Alex Rodriguez in spotlight

by Felix Pantaleón

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will meet for a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, beginning on Friday, June 30, 2018 (6/30/18). The final game of the series will be on ESPN, with ex-Yankee Alex Rodriguez in the broadcast booth on Sunday, July 1, 2018 (7/1/18). Rodriguez replaced Yankees manager Aaron Boone on “Sunday Night Baseball.”

Just how big is this weekend’s three-game series between the Yankees and Red Sox at Yankee Stadium?

So big, that ESPN is bringing out its big gun to hype the series on Friday morning.

Alex Rodriguez, who will call the series finale on “Sunday Night Baseball,” will co-host ESPN’s “Get Up” Friday morning to start talking up the American League East showdown.

.@AROD will co-host @GetUpESPN this Fri in studio from 8-10 a.m. ET to kick off a big weekend in New York which will culminate with Rodriguez calling his first #Yankees #RedSox Sunday Night Baseball telecast. He’s also scheduled to appear on Stephen A Smith’s @ESPNRadio show Fri. pic.twitter.com/EB5BfdMXEw

— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) June 27, 2018

“Get Up” is ESPN’s new morning program, featuring Mike Greenberg, who left “Mike and Mike” radio partner Mike Golic to return to the TV studio. Greenberg is joined by Michelle Beadle and Jalen Rose in ESPN’s new studio in lower Manhattnan.

Rodriguez is in his first season calling games for ESPN. He replaced Aaron Boone in the broadcast booth when the Yankees replaced manager Joe Girardi.

Ironically, Rodriguez also replaced Boone as the Yankees’ third baseman in 2004.

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Rodriguez is also a studio analyst for FOX Sports, who just named former A-Rod nemesis David Ortiz to its panel. The Red Sox slugger will join FOX’s coverage beginning with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.

The Red Sox are 54-27 this season, good for the best record in the majors. Boston wraps up a three-game series with the Angels on Thursday. If the Red Sox win, they will head to the Bronx Friday with a one-game lead over the Yankees. Should the Red Sox lose, Boston and New York will begin their series in a tie for first place.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.