Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2012 ) NY Yankees 2, Boston 0

There is only one way the Boston Red Sox can give their fans something to cheer about going into the offseason - knocking the rival New York Yankees off the top of the American League East. The Red Sox will get that opportunity this week in the Bronx, with three straight against the playoff-bound Yankees to close the regular season. New York enters the series tied with the Baltimore Orioles atop both the division and the wild-card standings.

Boston did the Yankees no favors over the weekend, when they were swept by the Orioles in three games. Sunday’s 6-3 setback clinched the team’s first 90-loss season since 1966. The Red Sox have dropped 10 of 15 to New York in 2012, including two of three at Fenway Park from Sept. 11-13. The Yankees overcame a 5-1 deficit for a 9-6 victory in Toronto on Sunday just to maintain their share of first place and have alternated wins and losses over the last eight games. If New York and Baltimore should finish tied for the division, the Yankees would have to travel to Camden Yards for a one-game playoff on Thursday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (11-7, 4.22 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (14-6, 3.42)

Buchholz had a rough outing against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, surrendering five runs (four earned) and eight hits in six innings to absorb the loss. The right-hander has not won since Aug. 16 - a span of seven starts - and has allowed at least four earned runs four times in that stretch. He was knocked around by New York in a loss on April 20 and has rarely fared well against the rivals, going 2-4 with a 5.84 ERA in eight career starts.

Sabathia has put together two strong starts in a row. After striking out 11 in eight scoreless innings against Oakland, the burly left-hander punched out 10 over eight frames to earn a win at Minnesota on Wednesday. Should the Yankees lose the division, Sabathia would be on only three day’s rest for Friday’s wild-card playoff game. He suffered one of his worst outings against Boston on July 28, allowing six runs on eight hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira (calf) is expected to return to the lineup Monday. He has missed 30 of the last 31 games.

2. Boston RF Cody Ross hit his 22nd home run Sunday, snapping a 12-game homerless drought.

3. New York INF Eduardo Nunez will be the main backup now that Jayson Nix (hip flexor) has been ruled out for the remained of the regular season.