New York @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2010 ) Boston 3, NY Yankees 4
Despite sitting through a 3 1/2-hour rain delay before their game was postponed, Friday night was far from a wasted evening for the New York Yankees.
After the Tampa Bay Rays lost to Kansas City Royals, New York begins Saturday a half-game ahead of the Rays in the AL East standings.
The Yankees now control their own destiny as they begin the final weekend of the regular season. If New York can sweep a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox, they'll not only win the division crown but own home-field advantage in the entire American League playoffs.
New York will play Boston twice on Saturday. The first game starts at 4:10 p.m. while the nightcap begins at 9:05 p.m.
Boston's starting third baseman Adrian Beltre will miss the entire series to be with his wife, who is expecting to give birth.
Beltre may have played his final game with Boston. After a stellar season in which he was clearly Boston's team MVP by batting .321 with 28 homers and 102 RBIs, Beltre is expected to reap the awards of the free agent market in the offseason.
The Red Sox also scratched Clay Buchholz from his scheduled start on Saturday due to a stiff back. He too will not play again this season.
Andy Pettitte will start Saturday's first game against Boston's Tim Wakefield.
Pettitte (11-3) is hoping to improve upon a disaster in his last outing. Boston pounded the veteran left-hander a week ago on the way to a 10-8 victory. He allowed 10 hits and seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings.
Pettitte is expected to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series for New York.
Wakefield (4-10) may be making his last start for Boston.
Even though the knuckleballer is signed through the 2011 season, Wakefield's role has been all but eliminated by the club.
Wakefield began the season as a starter, was shipped to the bullpen and has been rocked in both roles. It appears Boston may cut ties with Wakefield at season's end.
Boston will honor veteran third baseman Mike Lowell before Saturday's first game. Lowell will retire at the end of the season.