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Yankees-Blue Jays Preview

Sep 5, 2009 - 11:14 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (86-49) at Toronto (60-74), 1:07 p.m. EDT

As Derek Jeter gets closer and closer to a major milestone, the New York Yankees are hopeful they can welcome back one of the other linchpins of the franchise.

Closer Mariano Rivera could be available on Sunday when the Yankees look for their ninth win in 10 games as they close out a four-game road set against the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York (87-49) got Jeter back in the lineup for Saturday's 6-4 win after the Yankee captain sat out Friday's 6-0 loss. Jeter had two hits, leaving him seven shy of breaking the Yankees record held by Lou Gehrig (2,721).

While the New York shortstop has become an iconic figure with baseball's most successful franchise, so too has Rivera, who has not pitched since Tuesday at Baltimore. Rivera has been resting a sore left groin.

The closer threw "almost 20 pitches" in a bullpen session Saturday and reported no pain, meaning he might be able to return to the mound Sunday.

"I wasn't expecting to feel anything," Rivera said. "That's how minor everything was. I just have to make sure that it's ready."

Rivera, 1-2 with a 1.78 ERA and a major league-leading 38 saves, first began to feel sore Aug. 15 in Seattle. The 39-year-old has pitched in five games since then and has converted a personal-best 34 save opportunities in a row overall.

Manager Joe Girardi said he would consult with the training staff before deciding whether to use Rivera Sunday.

New York improved to 11-4 against Toronto (60-75) with Saturday's win as Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira homered.

"It was a real important game for us to win because you don't want losing streaks to become two," Girardi said. "You want to stop if after one and get on another roll. We have a chance to win the series tomorrow and that's what you want to do."

The Yankees are 5-2 in games started by Sergio Mitre (3-1, 6.65 ERA), who will get the ball Sunday. Mitre last pitched last Saturday against the White Sox and allowed one hit over 6 1-3 innings before he left the 10-0 victory when a line drive struck him in his right forearm.

Mitre was replaced by Chad Gaudin in the rotation Thursday, but he is ready to return against Toronto.

The Blue Jays are the only team to beat Mitre this year. The right-hander allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-4 loss on Aug. 10, falling to 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three career starts against them.

Toronto's Brian Tallet (5-9, 5.17) will make his third start this year against the Yankees after going 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in the first two. Tallet has also pitched 29 1-3 innings over 21 relief appearances against New York, posting a 3.07 ERA in that span.

Hideki Matsui is 7 for 14 with a homer against Tallet. New York is expected to rest Alex Rodriguez, who is 1 for 15 (.067) in his career versus Tallet, and catcher Jorge Posada, who is 1 for 8 (.125).

Tallet lost Tuesday at Texas when he yielded four runs over five innings in a 5-2 loss.