New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2012 ) Boston 1, NY Yankees 4

These are not normal times for the New York Yankees. Rarely, if ever, are the Yankees satisfied to come away with a split of a four-game series in September. And rarely will a series on the road against their most bitter rival look so appealing. That's the case on both count as the American League East-leading Yankees head to Boston for a three-game series with the flat-lining Red Sox. New York took two of four in Baltimore and leads the division by one game over the Orioles.

A calf injury to first baseman Mark Teixeira has cast a pall on the Yankees. He aggravated the injury Saturday and is expected to miss 10-to-14 days after an MRI exam revealed a grade 1 strain. The end of the season can't come fast enough for the Red Sox, who have lost four straight and 16 of their last 20 to fall into the AL East cellar. DH David Ortiz (Achilles), who has played once since July 16, is expected to be shut down for the season.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (13-10, 3.14 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (9-11, 4.99)

Kuroda won not especially sharp in winning his last start at Tampa Bay, allowing four runs in six innings, but it broke a two-game losing streak. He had pitched at least eight innings in each of his previous four starts, including a stellar outing against the Red Sox in which he allowed one run on four hits in eight frames. He has had two consecutive strong outings against Boston, but was roughed up for seven runs on 10 hits at Fenway Park on July 6.

Lester is 4-1 in his last five starts, but overall his fortunes have pretty much mirrored those of his team. He won at Seattle last time out, allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings. Lester had one of his best outings against the Yankees on Aug. 18, giving up one run in seven innings, but also allowed nine runs in two previous starts versus New York this season. He has been dreadful at Fenway, logging a 3-8 record and 6.60 ERA in 15 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees have won eight of 12 meetings with the Red Sox this season.

2. Boston was swept at home by Toronto over the weekend to fall 15 games under .500 for the first time since 1992.

3. Yankees RF Nick Swisher is hitless (0-for-28) in the first seven games of the current road trip.