New York @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2010 ) NY Yankees 7, Texas 6

If things keep going the way they are now, this weekend will offer a nice little playoff preview in the American League.

The Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees will be looking to do some playoff scouting when the teams kick off a three-game series on Friday.

If the season ended today, the Yankees would be the top-seeded team in the AL and the Tampa Bay Rays would win the wild card. Since teams from the same division can’t play each other in the first round, that would leave New York with a matchup against the No. 3 seed in the league - the Rangers.

The Yankees have not let up in months and own the best record in the majors, going 7-3 over their last 10 to increase their lead in the AL East to 2 ½ games over the Rays.

Texas has been on cruise control for the last few weeks and was riding a five-game losing streak before bouncing back with wins on Wednesday and Thursday. Owners of a 7 ½-game lead in the AL West, the Rangers can afford to drop a few while they rest Josh Hamilton with bruised ribs.

Hamilton, who leads the majors with a .361 batting average to go along with 31 homers and 97 RBIs, is the biggest name on the team nursing an injury, although shortstop Elvis Andrus and ace Cliff Lee are just as important to Texas’ chances in October. Both are taking their time working through minor ailments, but are expected to participate in the weekend series.

One thing that will most certainly be different between Friday night and a possible playoff matchup would be Yankees starter Javier Vazquez. The veteran right-hander has struggled at times this season and would most likely be the starter on the outside looking in at New York’s postseason rotation. He did nothing to change that in his last start, when the Toronto Blue Jays knocked the Puerto Rico native around for five runs on four hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Vazquez hasn’t gone deeper than 4 2/3 innings in any outing since August 6 and was pounded by Texas on August 11, allowing six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 frames. Michael Young homered and Hamilton, Mitch Moreland and David Murphy each drove in runs off Vazquez in the contest.

Texas would most certainly use Friday’s starter in a playoff series, as left-hander C.J. Wilson has been the team’s most consistent pitcher this season. The converted reliever leads the club with 14 wins and a 3.10 ERA and has allowed three earned runs or less in 23 of his 28 starts in 2010.

Already over 100 innings past his previous career high, however, Wilson might need some rest down the stretch if he hopes to be in peak form for October. The 30-year-old turned in his worst performance in months over the weekend, getting lit up for six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings at Minnesota.

Wilson has pitched against New York twice this season, suffering a loss on April 16 and pitching well on August 10, holding the Yankees to two runs in 5 1/3 innings of a no decision.