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Rays prepare for huge upcoming series with final game in Yankee Stadium

Sep 14, 2008 - 7:32 AM Tampa Bay (88-58) at NY Yankees (78-70) 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays know they will enter their final homestand of the season atop the American League East. The only thing up for debate will be the actual margin.

The Rays attempt to increase their division lead when they conclude a nine-game road trip against the Yankees on Sunday.

After defeating New York on September 4 to increase its division lead to 3 1/2 games, Tampa Bay appeared ready to succumb to the pressures of September as it lost four straight away from home to division foes.

However, the Rays rebounded to take the final two games of their series with the team they are trying to hold off in the AL East, the Boston Red Sox (87-61), before splitting a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees on Saturday, maintaining their two-game lead after Boston split its own doubleheader on Saturday with Toronto.

Tampa Bay would enjoy nothing more to use a series win in its final game in Yankee Stadium as a springboard to its final three-game set against the Red Sox, starting on Monday. To do so, the Rays will turn to Edwin Jackson (11-10, 4.06 ERA), who will try to avoid his third loss in as many starts.

The righthander surrendered all three runs and eight hits over seven innings as the Rays suffered a 3-0 loss at Boston on Monday.

The Yankees will counter with Carl Pavano (2-1, 5.31), who will look to rebound from his worst start in four outings since returning from "Tommy John" surgery. The righthander permitted five runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in Monday's 12-1 defeat against the Angels.