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Yankees face tough test as they continue playoff climb

Sep 21, 2007 - 1:48 PM Toronto (77-75) at NY Yankees (88-64) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - If recent trends continue, the New York Yankees may win their division yet again as they begin a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Not too long ago, it appeared improbable whether or not the Yankees would even make the postseason. But New York, winners of nine straight American League East titles, has won four straight games and 12 of 14 since, moving it to within 1 1/2 games of first-place Boston (90-63) in the division.

The Yankees, who also lead the wild card by 5 1/2 games over the Detroit Tigers (83-70), have trimmed 5 1/2 games off the seven-game lead the Red Sox held on September 4.

They will have their work cut out for themselves on Friday, however, as they face Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (15-7, 3.82 ERA), who won for the first time in six starts on Saturday against Baltimore. He yielded one run and five hits over seven innings in an 8-3 win.

The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner is 10-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 25 games - 23 starts - against the Yankees. In his last three starts at Yankee Stadium, Halladay has allowed just one run.

New York will counter with ace Chien-Ming Wang (18-7, 3.82), who will be looking to rebound from a poor performance in his last start. In a 10-1 loss to Boston on Saturday, he surrendered five runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings, putting an end to a five-start winning streak for the sinkerballer.

Over his career, Wang is 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in six career starts against Toronto.

The Blue Jays are coming off a three-game sweep over the Red Sox during the week, enabling the Yankees to make their charge towards the division crown.