New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) NY Yankees 1, LA Angels 2

THE STORY: With the New York Yankees mired in a three-game losing skid, CC Sabathia will look to stop the bleeding against the host Los Angeles Angels on Saturday and record his second consecutive 20-win season in the process. The hefty lefty might need a boost from an ailing offense, which is batting just .175 with one home run during the losing streak. Despite its struggles, New York still leads the Boston Red Sox by 2 1/2 games atop the American League East. Los Angeles is the same distance removed from the AL West-leading Texas Rangers after starting its nine-game homestand with a 5-2 mark.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), KCOP (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (19-7, 2.97 ERA) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (14-8, 3.20 ERA)

Sabathia extended his winning streak to three games after striking out 10 batters for the second straight contest. The 31-year-old southpaw yielded two runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings as the Yankees cruised to a 9-3 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Sabathia is just 6-7 in his career against the Angels, but came within one out of a complete game in a 3-2 victory on June 4.

Haren snapped a modest two-game losing skid after yielding three runs in six innings in a 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday. The 30-year-old Haren has fared well versus the Yankees, posting a 4-1 career mark. He settled for a no-decision in his outing against New York on Aug. 9 after permitting four runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (87-56): Rookie Jesus Montero belted his third homer in as many contests, but New York couldn't muster much of anything else against ace Jered Weaver en route to a 2-1 loss on Friday. In fact, the Yankees had just three hits and struck out 12 times. Alex Rodriguez continues to struggle, posting a .194 average with two homers and four RBIs in 10 games since returning from the disabled list. Rodriguez has enjoyed some success against Haren, going 6-for-20 in his career. Outfielder Nick Swisher sat out Friday's contest and had an MRI after he felt pain in his throwing (left) elbow. Catcher Francisco Cervelli was also held out of the contest, one day removed from being blasted in a collision with Nick Markakis of the Baltimore Orioles.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (79-65): Los Angeles is no stranger to late-inning heroics. The Angels claimed their 10th win of the season on their final swing of the bat Friday as Macier Izturis' pinch-hit sacrifice fly did the trick in the ninth inning for a 2-1 triumph. Entering Friday's contest hitless in 12 at-bats, Howie Kendrick had an RBI single in the fifth inning to level the contest at 1-1. Kendrick has fared well versus Sabathia, going 8-for-15 in his career. Not to be outdone, veteran Torii Hunter has collected 20 career hits versus Sabathia. Erick Aybar, who went 2-for-4 on Friday, has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.

FINAL PITCH: Reggie Jackson threw out the first pitch of Friday's game. Jackson, a special adviser to the Yankees, wore a red Angels jacket in front of the home folks. The Hall of Famer played five seasons with the then-California Angels during the 1980s.