• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Yankees continue final homestand at Stadium

Sep 20, 2008 - 10:16 AM Baltimore (67-85) at NY Yankees (83-71), 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees' long offseason, which will be littered with questions and rationalities in regard to why the team failed to make the postseason for the 14th straight year, is approaching. And in Yankee Stadium's final days, it's puzzling to watch the team produce as it should've a month ago.

The hot Yankees face the Baltimore Orioles in the second-to-last game in "The House That Ruth Built" on Saturday.

Any fragment of hope the Yankees had to make the postseason has evaporated, but they continue to sizzle in September. New York has won three straight and seven of 10, including Friday's 3-2 victory.

Despite being nine games back of the Tampa Bay Rays (91-61) in the American League East and 7 1/2 behind the Boston Red Sox (90-63) in the wild-card hunt, the final weekend of the historic stadium has generated much buzz.

"I think they understand what's going on," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "They have two more regular-season games and the place has been the house of numerous, numerous, numerous championships. This place has meant a lot to the history of baseball and the history of this country. I think the people appreciate it and everybody wants to be here."

Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.80 ERA) takes the mound for New York looking to further impress the Yankee hierarchy, which must sort through many issues in the winter pertaining to the 2009 starting rotation.

The 25-year-old righthander is coming off a solid outing against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, when he surrendered two runs and five hits over six frames en route to a no-decision.

Baltimore will counter with Brian Burres (7-9, 6.32), who is taking the place of injured Daniel Cabrera.

Burres has struggled mightily and has been working out of the bullpen this month. In four games and three starts against the Yankees, he is 1-0 with a 6.38 ERA.