New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2013 ) NY Yankees 5, Boston 2

The one thing the New York Yankees have enjoyed all season has been pitching, and that is what they hope keeps them in the postseason race. The Yankees hand the ball to ace CC Sabathia on Sunday when they attempt to take the rubber match of the three-game series from the host Boston Red Sox. New York has held the major’s top-scoring offense to a total of six runs in the first two contests.

The Red Sox are clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead over the hard-charging Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East while the Yankees sit in fourth place, six games behind Boston. New York is strong in the rotation and in the bullpen, where David Robertson and Mariano Rivera combine to form one of the most potent setup-closer combos in the game. The Yankees need that strength to make up for an offense that continues to reach down to Triple-A for spare parts like Thomas Neal and Melky Mesa.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (9-8, 4.07 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.24)

Sabathia’s inconsistent first half ended on a down note against Minnesota last weekend, when he was knocked around for eight runs (three earned) on eight hits in four innings to earn a loss. The burly lefty has surrendered 21 home runs in 20 starts, including seven in his last five turns. Sabathia kept the ball in the park against Boston on May 31 and struck out 10 while allowing one run in 7 1/3 innings to pick up a win.

Jon Lester was scheduled to get the start on Sunday but was pushed back to get some extra rest, sending Dempster up in the rotation. The veteran right-hander had a stretch of eight straight starts allowing three earned runs or less broken up before the All-Star break, when he was knocked around for seven runs (four earned) on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings at Seattle. Dempster faced New York on April 4 and yielded three runs in five innings to absorb the loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RF Shane Victorino (hamstring) sat out Saturday’s 5-2 loss and is day-to-day.

2. New York's Alex Rodriguez was scheduled to start at 3B in a rehab game at Triple-A on Saturday, but was moved to DH due to tightness in his left quad.

3. Boston DH David Ortiz has recorded two hits in each of the first two games of the series.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Red Sox 2