Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2012 ) Boston 3, NY Yankees 10

The gulf between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox is as wide as it's been in years, evidenced by the 11 1/2 games separating the first- and last-place teams in the American League East. In any other year, Saturday's matchup between ace left-handers CC Sabathia of the Yankees and Boston's Jon Lester would be among the more highly anticipated duels. But Lester, like his team, has been in a deep funk and has not looked capable of reversing New York's dominance this year.

The Yankees pummeled the Red Sox into submission in Friday's series opener, using three homers to account for eight of their 10 runs to improve to 6-1 against Boston. The power displayed overshadowed Ichiro Suzuki's home debut with New York as the Yankees stretched their lead in the AL East to 8 1/2 games over Baltimore. The Red Sox have dropped six of their last seven to fall two games under .500 at the 100-game mark of the season.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (5-8, 5.46 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (10-3, 3.30)

Lester has lost three straight starts and hit rock bottom in his last outing, getting hammered by the Toronto Blue Jays for four homers and 11 runs - both career worsts - in four-plus innings. He has failed to get through 4 1/3 innings during the three-game skid, allowing 22 runs on 25 hits. Lester is 8-4 in 18 career starts against the Yankees, but was roughed up for five runs in 4 1/3 innings on July 8.

Sabathia will be making his third start since coming off the disabled list due to a groin strain. He pitched six scoreless innings against Toronto on July 17 and gave up three runs in seven innings at Oakland on Sunday, only to see the bullpen blow the lead. The burly lefty is 7-9 with a 4.14 ERA in 20 career starts against Boston, including a 1-4 mark in five starts last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees have hit 19 homers and outscored the Red Sox 59-35 this season.

2. New York became the first team in the majors to win 60 games. It marked the third time in four seasons the Yankees won 60 games by the 100-game mark.

3. Friday's series opener lasted only 2 hours, 41 minutes - only the fifth game in the last 61 meetings that the teams have finished in under three hours.