Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2010 ) Boston 2, NY Yankees 1

At the beginning of the season many people anticipated that the two three-game series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in the season’s final weeks would have major implications for how the playoffs will look.

They were only half right.

While the Boston Red Sox are feverishly counting the days until the offseason begins, the six games will be integral for New York. The two rivals begin the first three-game set at Yankee Stadium Friday night.

The Yankees dropped the final two games of a four-game set with Tampa Bay to put their division title hopes in peril. New York enters Friday night’s action just a half-game ahead of the Rays in the American League East race.

Those two straight losses mean the Yankees now trail the Minnesota Twins for the best record in the American League. The winner of that race will claim home field advantage throughout the AL postseason.

New York blew a short-lived 3-1 lead on Thursday. Yankees ace CC Sabathia was lit up for seven runs in the sixth inning as Tampa Bay pulled away for a 10-3 win. Suddenly, New York’s stopper and its pen seemed to have leaks.

Joba Chamberlain was the first culprit out of the pen allowing all three of his inherited runners to score. A couple of innings later Javier Vazquez allowed two runs and hit three straight batters.

Just two days prior New York led the AL East by 2 ½ games and seemed to be rounding into fine form for the playoffs. Two straight setbacks leaves it seemingly filled with questions.

They hope to get back on track Friday by sending veteran Andy Pettitte to the mound. Pettitte (11-2, 2.81 ERA) is a big part of the Yankees’ postseason hopes.

The left-hander was sharp in his return the rotation after missing two months with a strained groin. Pettitte allowed just three hits and one run in six innings against Baltimore in the outing but the Orioles rallied for a 4-3 win. Pettitte did not figure in the decision.

Pettitte has a long and successful past against Boston. He is 18-9 in his career against the Red Sox with a 3.68 ERA.

The Red Sox are seven games behind Tampa Bay in the wild-card standings with just 10 games to play. There will be no miracle this season.

Boston sends Josh Beckett to the hill to start the series. Beckett has had a dismal year. He also spent two months on the disabled list but hasn’t pitched well for any part of the season.

Beckett is 9-7 lifetime against New York but has been pounded by them this season. He’s faced New York four times on the year and lasted a total of 19 2/3 innings. Beckett has allowed 33 hits, 11 walks and 26 earned runs in those games.