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Red Sox-Yankees lacking usual drama

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:29 AM NY Yankees (87-72) at Boston (94-65) 7:05 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- When the schedule-makers penciled in the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox for the last weekend of the season, they probably expected more to be at stake.

The only thing left to decide is who the Red Sox will be playing in the playoffs next week, and where the Yankees will begin their vacation.

Boston holds a slim hope of winning the American League East, currently trailing the Tampa Bay Rays (96-63) by two games. Since the Rays own the tiebreaker between the teams, the Red Sox will have to win out while the Rays lose their final three games.

New York is, for the first time since 1993, playing meaningless games at the end of the season after having been eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday.

Boston owns an 8-7 lead in the season series against the Yankees.

The Red Sox will get Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80 ERA) some work at the start on Friday. The righthander has not lost since July 28 and is coming off a win at Toronto in which he allowed two hits in seven scoreless frames.

The Japanese star is unlikely to throw more than 85 pitches as Boston tries to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

New York will counter with rookie Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.38). Yankees manager Joe Girardi and the Yankees brass will be taking a long look at Aceves as they plan for 2009.

The 25-year-old righthander has made three starts in September, allowing three runs in 19 combined frames.