The Series Ahead: Yankees Vs Red Sox

Yankees - Red Sox

Yankee Stadium
(4 Games)

The Yankees have struggled their last two series, both against division opponents. With a satisfying win on Wednesday and the weight of 600 lifted off Alex Rodriguez, and the entire team the Yankees need to get back to business and put an end to the Red Sox season. The Red Sox make a visit to Yankee Stadium this weekend for a 4 game set. This is the first time the teams have met since way back on May 18th.

This series will not have the same feel as a typical August Yankees-Red Sox series. The fact is the Red Sox have been decimated by injuries and even though they have gotten healthier they are without key players Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Captain Jason Varitek. While the they have managed to compete, they haven't been able to keep up in the division as they sit 6 games back behind the Yankees and 5.5 games back behind the second place Rays.

What will make this series excited is not the Yankees and Red Sox competing agaisnt eachother for a place in the standings, but the Yankees trying to hold the Rays off while playing their arch rival. However this does not mean the Red Sox are out of it. A four game sweep of our Yankees would leave the sox 2 games behind us and still behind the Rays as well. However this outcome does not seem likely. With the Sox missing their two best bats and the Yankees fairly healthy the boys in pinstripes should take care of business. A four game sweep by the Yankees and the Sox season will be virtually over as they will sit 10 games back in the division.

It seems as if there is a new era of competition in the AL East. For nearly a decade it was Yankees-Red Sox competing against each other for the East Crown with the loser likely to win the Wild Card. However the 2008 Rays were not a fluke and this is now a three team divisional race while someone is going to be left out of October baseball. The Yankees can make it a two team race for the rest of the season this weekend. When the Yankees and Red Sox meet you know it's going to be fun. Sit back and enjoy! (Hopefully a Boston Massacre)

Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. TV:MY9 & MLBN Radio: WCBS
RHP Javy Vazquez (9-7, 4.61) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (11-5, 2.59)

Game 2: Saturday @ 4:10 p.m. TV: FOX & MLBN Radio: WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.19) vs. RHP John Lackey (19-6, 4.48)

Game 3: Sunday @ 8:00 p.m. TV: ESPN Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70)

Game 4: Monday @ 2:05 p.m. TV: YES & MLBN Radio: WCBS
RHP Dustin Moseley (1-1, 4.13) vs. LHP Jon Lester (11-7, 3.07)

Three Questions

• Can Derek Jeter continue his hot hitting at home? Home-Road: 326-.237
  
• How will newcomers Berkman, Kearns, and Wood handle The Rivalry?
  
• In a potentially pivotal game three, which A.J. Burnett will show up?

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- DH/1B Nick Johnson is on the 60-day DL with an inflamed tendon in the wrist. Set back on July 5th set to visit a wrist specialist.
- RHP Alfredo Aceves is on the 15-day DL with lower back discomfort. Was unable to finish his latest bullpen session.
- LHP Andy Pettitte has a Grade 1 groin strain. Expected to miss 4-5 weeks.
- LHP Damaso Marte is on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation

Red Sox:
- CF Mike Cameron is on the 15-day DL with abdominal pain
- 2B Dustin Pedroia is on the 15-day DL with a broken left foot
- 3B/1B Kevin Youkilis is out for the rest of the season. Surgery today on thumb.
- RHP Junichi Tazawa is out for the season with the sprain of the ulnar ligament in right elbow
- C Jason Varitek 15-day DL with a broken right foot.

If you have a twitter account, I have created a personal twitter account for the blog as an individual writer. Click here to follow SIH on twitter and here to follow me on twitter. I will be posting breaking news, occasionally live blogging, as well as posting photo's from Yankee Stadium when I attend games.