Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) Boston 2, NY Yankees 10

The Boston Red Sox are showing more interest in development than winning at this point, leaving the New York Yankees with a clear path to the American League East title. The Red Sox started a lineup that included only two players from the opening day roster in Monday’s series opener and ended up getting crushed, 10-2, for their sixth straight loss. With the Orioles losing, the Yankees now lead the East by one game with two left.

The total salary for Boston’s starting lineup on Monday was $12.5 million, about $136 million less than New York’s. The Yankees looked like the clearly superior team, putting up nine runs in the second inning and cruising to the win. New York got Mark Teixeira back after a two-week absence and the slugger contributed a home run during the second-inning barrage. The hottest player for the Yankees lately has been Robinson Cano, who has multiple hits in seven straight games and homered among three extra-base hits Monday. The Red Sox are giving time to everyone on the 40-man roster at this point. Four players in Monday’s lineup came in batting less than .200.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (9-14, 4.94 ERA) vs. Yankees RH David Phelps (4-4, 3.34)

Lester, like most of the team, is coming to the end of a disappointing campaign. The former All-Star has suffered the loss in each of his last three starts and has allowed at least three runs in seven consecutive turns. Lester is guaranteed to finish with his highest full-season ERA, WHIP and batting average against. He issued seven walks in 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees on Sept. 11 and is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts against the rivals this season.

Tuesday would be Ivan Nova’s normal spot in the rotation, but New York has decided to skip the struggling right-hander in favor of Phelps, who has had two strong starts against Boston since Aug. 18. Phelps has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation this season, posting a 2-2 record with a 3.81 ERA in 10 starts. The rookie allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings to beat the Red Sox on Sept. 12 and turned in a quality start in a losing effort Aug. 18.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (finger) and CF Jacoby Ellsbury (unspecified injury) both sat out on Monday. Both could return Tuesday.

2. New York 3B Alex Rodriguez snapped an 11-game streak without an RBI with a sacrifice fly Monday.

3. Boston would clinch its first last-place finish since 1992 with a loss Tuesday.