It's not difficult to decipher the anticipation when it comes to this three-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees in the Bronx.
Nobody is trying to hide it, as was evident by Thursday's comments from both Alex Cora and Chaim Bloom.
"They are where they are in the standings. We are where we are in the standings," said Cora after his team's series-ending win over the Astros. "They have a good team. We have a good team. I don’t think too many people thought us going into New York we were going to be in this position, but we are, we are. Now we have to be ready for a fun weekend. It should be loud, it should be fun. Yankees, Red Sox and people are going to be watching."
"I'm sure it's going to be a wild atmosphere," said Bloom on the Greg Hill Show. "I have no doubt about that."
And it's not just emanating from the Red Sox' side, as Brett Gardner's comments would suggest.
"Listen, we don't like those guys, they don't like us," said the Yankees outfielder. "I don't want to get too far ahead of the Rays, because we have one more game until we get to the Red Sox this weekend. But we haven't seen much of them this year, so it will be interesting to have them come into town and obviously we look forward to those games, whether they are here in the Bronx or up at Fenway. There's a lot of energy and having fans back in the stands this year will be fun. It will be a good matchup and and we look forward to hopefully playing well against them."
But this is more than just the storylines that come with Cora's presence, or the teams' bumper-sticker rivalry.
Of the utmost importance is this: The Red Sox have to prove they can win some games in Yankee Stadium.
Since Steve Pearce stretched to gather in Eduardo Nunez's throw in the 2018 series-clincher, life has been ugly for the Red Sox against the Yankees in New York.
There have been 16 games between the teams over the past three seasons, with the Yankees winning 15 of them. The run differential? Try 53 more runs for New York. Talk about a response to that night on Oct. 9, 2018.
The last time the Red Sox won at Yankee Stadium was two years and two days ago, with David Price holding the hosts to two runs over 6 2/3 innings before Brandon Workman ultimately locked down the save for an 8-5 win.
Michael Chavis started at second base. Eduardo Nunez was the designated hitter. And Sam Travis began the game at first.
Another reminder in that game was the presence of Matt Barnes, who set-up Workman but gave up three runs in doing so. This time Barnes comes in as one of the game's most dominant closers, but ... In his last four appearances at Yankee Stadium the reliever has allowed two more more runs in each of his outings to a tune of a 24.55 ERA.
Admittedly, this isn't the same Red Sox team that has run through this rough stretch at Yankee Stadium.
Alex Verdugo's first seven games as a visitor against the Yanks came last season in seven games, finishing with an .833 OPS and a pair of home runs.
Enrique Hernandez has played two games against the Yankees in New York, both coming in 2016 and totaling three plate appearances for the infielder/outfielder.
Hunter Renfroe's experiences at Yankee Stadium haven't been great, despite a team record of 4-3. The outfielder is 2-for-19 with 11 strikeouts.
Marwin Gonzalez's teams have gone 9-11 in the Bronx with the Red Sox' utility man carrying a .261 batting average and .630 OPS in 71 appearances.
So you have new players, and certainly a different vibe than has been prevalent for the majority of those previous 16 get-togethers. That's a start. Now -- in among the trash talk and chaos -- the 2021 Red Sox have to pass their most important test to date ... winning in Yankee Stadium.