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Yankees hope to get back on track against Royals

Aug 15, 2008 - 10:29 AM Kansas City (54-67) at NY Yankees (64-57), 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- After a brutal and possibly dooming 10-game road trip, the New York Yankees should be glad to return home.

Andy Pettitte and the flatlining Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

Joe Girardi's club posted a 3-7 mark against the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Minnesota Twins, further putting a damper on the club's thinning chances of staying in the thick of the American League playoff chase.

The Boston Red Sox (71-51) wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Rangers on Thursday and are ahead of Yankees by 6 1/2 games in the wild-card hunt. The Tampa Bay Rays (73-47) took two straight from the Oakland Athletics and expanded their division lead to 9 1/2.

However, the Yankees should get a boost with the return of Derek Jeter, who missed Wednesday's game after fouling a ball off the inside of his left foot the previous night.

Pettitte (12-9, 4.32 ERA) takes the mound with hopes of turning around his recent fortunes. The lefthander is 0-2 with an 8.83 ERA over his last three starts.

In his last start, the veteran gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven-plus innings, but did not get a decision in the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Angels on Sunday.

The 36-year-old is 7-0 with a 3.77 ERA over his last 10 starts against the Royals, but was tagged for a career high-tying 10 runs in 6 2/3 innings in his last start against them. Pettitte has not lost to Kansas City at home since August 18, 1999 and is 12-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 21 overall outings - 19 starts - against it.

The Royals counter with Gil Meche (10-9, 4.24), who is 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break.

After being swept by the Chicago White Sox this week, Kansas City has lost seven of its last eight.