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Yankees-Blue Jays Preview

Sep 28, 2010 - 3:55 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

New York (93-63) at Toronto (80-75), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees have their share of concerns as they gear up for what they hope will be their 15th playoff berth in 16 seasons.

Another poor start from ace CC Sabathia would only add to their worries.

The slumping Yankees look to lock up that postseason spot and possibly take over first place in the AL East on Tuesday night against the surging Toronto Blue Jays.

Needing a win in any of their remaining six games to clinch a playoff berth, the Yankees lost for the fifth time in six contests Monday as A.J. Burnett's struggles continued. Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer and John Buck added a solo shot off Burnett, leading Toronto to a 7-5 victory.

Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer and Curtis Granderson had a two-run drive for New York (93-64), which remained one-half game behind East-leading Tampa Bay, a 4-0 loser to Baltimore. The wild card-leading Yankees, losers of 14 of 21 since winning a season-high eight straight, can also reach the postseason if Boston loses one of its final six games.

"Hopefully it means we're getting it out of our system," Teixeira said. "We haven't played good baseball. That's starters, that's offense, defense, it's everything. Let's get this out of our system and hopefully we do make the playoffs and have a chance to win a World Series."

With Burnett pitching poorly and Andy Pettitte coming off a recent groin injury, New York needs Sabathia (20-7, 3.26 ERA) to be the dominant pitcher he's been most of this season. The big left-hander leads the AL in wins and remains a top contender for the Cy Young Award despite having problems of his own lately.

Sabathia is 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA in his last six starts, and is coming off one of his worst outings of the season.

In his first appearance after reaching 20 wins for the first time, Sabathia took a 3-1 lead into the sixth Thursday against Tampa Bay before falling apart. He was charged with a season-high seven runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings of a 10-3 loss.

"I'm supposed to be able to go out there and put up zeros. I wasn't able to do that in the sixth," Sabathia said. "It's disappointing, especially after the guys had scratched out a lead for me."

Sabathia has won three straight and five of his last six starts against Toronto. He is 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA at Rogers Centre.

None of the current Blue Jays have had much success against the Yankees ace, with only Edwin Encarnacion (3 for 10) hitting better than .250. Wells is bating .448 with four homers and 12 RBIs at home against New York this year, but is 6 for 31 with two homers lifetime off Sabathia.

Two more homers helped the Blue Jays (81-75) win their fifth straight, one shy of a season high. Toronto has a major league-best 243 home runs, one off the team record set in 2000.

"That was a big game for us," manager Cito Gaston said. "No matter what happens the rest of the way out, this team has done a great job this year."

The Blue Jays need a victory in either of the next two games to win a season series from the Yankees for the first time since 2000.

Kyle Drabek (0-2, 4.91) will try to help Toronto achieve that as he makes his third start. The rookie right-hander gave up three runs and four hits - two homers - over five innings of a 6-3 loss to Seattle on Wednesday in his home debut.