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Yankees-Red Sox Preview

Oct 2, 2010 - 4:20 AM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

New York (94-65) at Boston (87-72), 4:10 p.m. EDT

For the New York Yankees, it was a relief to have clinched a playoff spot before spending the season's final weekend in Boston. Then, as the weekend began, they gained sole possession of the AL East lead without ever taking the field.

The Yankees could clinch their second straight division title as soon as Saturday night, when they will follow their regularly scheduled afternoon game against the Red Sox with a makeup of Friday's rainout.

The doubleheader will likely make for a long night at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox (87-72) and Yankees (94-65), notorious for playing games against each other at a deliberate pace, have posted an average time of 3 hours, 28 minutes in their 15 meetings this season. They spent nearly that long at the park Friday, sitting through a 3-hour, 23-minute rain delay before the series opener was finally postponed.

New York managed to make progress anyway, moving into sole possession of the division lead when Tampa Bay lost 7-0 in Kansas City. If the Yankees sweep this doubleheader and the Rays fall to the Royals again Saturday, New York will clinch the East title and Tampa Bay would settle for the wild card.

The division champion will have home-field advantage for a division series against West champion Texas, while the runner-up will travel to face Central champion Minnesota. If the teams finish tied, the Rays would be division champions by virtue of winning the season series with the Yankees.

If Saturday's starting pitchers Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett can round into postseason form, that will provide the Yankees further peace of mind.

One of four players - along with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera - to win five World Series with the Yankees since 1996, Pettitte (11-3, 3.17 ERA) figures to play a key role behind ace CC Sabathia in the postseason rotation.

However, in two starts since returning from a groin strain that sidelined him for two months, the 38-year-old left-hander hasn't appeared ready for October dominance.

Pettitte had a terrible time at home against the Red Sox on Sept. 24, giving up seven runs and a season-high 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 10-8 loss. Despite those ominous numbers, manager Joe Girardi didn't appear concerned.

"It's not what you want to see," Girardi said. "But I believe in Andy and I believe he'll bounce back in his next start."

Girardi seems less confident in Burnett (10-15, 5.33), who will take the ball for the nightcap. The manager refused to say whether the right-hander would be part of the postseason rotation following his last start, a 7-5 loss to Toronto on Monday in which he allowed seven runs and seven hits in 2 1-3 innings and became the first Yankee to lose 15 games in a season since 1992, when Melido Perez went 13-16.

"I broke every record in the wrong direction for the Yankees this year so it ain't like we got Cy Young on the mound," Burnett said. "But, then again, I can go out there and throw a no-hitter any time so I have that in the back of my head, too.

"So confidence is not lost, but I know there's questions. I'm not oblivious to that."

Boston may not be the place for Burnett to change his fortunes. He is 0-3 with a 9.40 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox since joining the Yankees for the 2009 season. He's made five starts at Fenway in that span, allowing eight runs or more in three of them.

The Red Sox will give Tim Wakefield (4-10, 5.20) the ball in the opener for his first start since an 11-5 win over the Rays on Sept. 8. The 44-year-old knuckleballer has been effective against the Yankees in four relief appearances this season, limiting them to one run and four hits over 9 1-3 innings. However, his 17 career losses to New York are tied for his most against any opponent.

In the nightcap, Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.72) will make his fifth attempt at earning his 10th win. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.84 ERA in his last four starts.

The most effective of those outings came Sunday at Yankee Stadium. He allowed two runs and four hits over eight innings and left with the lead, but Jonathan Papelbon blew the save and the Red Sox fell 4-3 in 10.

Matsuzaka is 3-3 with a 5.70 lifetime ERA against the Yankees. Jeter is 7 for 19 with two homers off him.

The Yankees have dropped six of eight but managed to clinch at least the wild card and eliminate Boston with a 6-1 victory over Toronto on Tuesday. That was their only win in three games at Rogers Centre.

Boston has dropped four of five, falling 8-2 in Chicago on Thursday.

The Yankees lead the season series 8-7 and hold a 4-2 edge at Fenway Park.