• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Yankees hope to make up ground on Red Sox

Aug 26, 2008 - 1:30 PM Boston (75-55) at NY Yankees (70-60) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- If the New York Yankees have any hopes of keeping their postseason streak intact, their upcoming series with the Boston Red Sox is of most importance.

The Yankees begin a crucial three-game set with the rival Red Sox on Tuesday in what could be Boston's final visit to Yankees Stadium this season.

New York, which has made the playoffs every year since 1995, is five games behind Boston in the American League wild card race.

The Yankees' chances of making another postseason seemed to be fading after a 3-7 road trip a couple weeks ago, but a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend has helped restore hope.

Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17 ERA) looks to continue the momentum for New York when he takes the hill.

The veteran lefthander has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts and allowed one run and five hits in New York's 5-1 victory at Toronto last Wednesday. Pettitte is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two starts against Boston this season.

Unless the teams clash in the postseason, it will be the final time the Red Sox visit "the House that Ruth built."

Boston is expected to activate righthander Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game to take the hill. The 42-year-old has been on the DL since August 6 with tightness in his throwing shoulder.

The longest tenured member of the Red Sox, Wakefield, who gave up Aaron Boone's walk-off home run in Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, is 9-17 with a 5.14 ERA over his career against New York.

"I've played against them in that stadium for the last 14 years," Wakefield said. "It's a very special cathedral in baseball and hopefully I'm around next year to see the new one."

Each team has won six games through the first 12 meetings this season. New York visits Boston to end the season from September 26-28.