New York Yankees Are Within Striking Distance as They Head to Boston

Don't look now, but the New York Yankees are back.

After a 6-0 start to the second half, the Bronx Bombers are just three games out of first place in the AL East after Tampa Bay's 4-2 loss at the hands of Kansas City. They have also moved within three games of the wild card.

A week ago, the Yankees had three teams ahead of them in the wild card race. They swept two of the teams ahead of them in Oakland and Minnesota, and now they get a chance to sweep their last competitor for the wild card: the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox and Yankees head into this three-game series at Fenway Park in a three-way competition with the Rays for the playoffs. As it stands now, the division will send two teams to the playoffs, with Tampa Bay (59-42) and Boston (60-43) tied for first, three games clear of New York (56-45).

Injuries have been primary concerns for both teams. Boston welcomes back David Ortiz (.253, 13, .839 OPS) to the lineup Friday after he missed almost two months with a torn tendon in his left wrist. Their other slugger, Manny Ramirez (.301, 19, .932 OPS), was scratched from Wednesday's game and is day-to-day heading into the series. If Ramirez is healthy enough to play, it will reunite one of the most feared three-four combinations in baseball.

The Yankees are preparing for life without Jorge Posada (.268, 3, .775). Their catcher has been limited to just 51 games this year, 30 at catcher, with shoulder injuries. He was placed on the 15-day DL again on July 21, and he is currently deliberating between having season-ending surgery and playing through the pain at first base and designated hitter the rest of the season.

Joba Chamberlain (2-3, 2.52, 1.30 WHIP) will face Josh Beckett (9-6, 3.97, 1.16 WHIP) on Friday. Since being converted to a starter, Chamberlain has been brilliant, but he has yet to pitch through the seventh inning in his first nine starts. He got a no decision after allowing three runs in six innings in his only start against Boston this season on July 6. Beckett is 3-0 against the Yankees this season with a 3.92 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

On Saturday, Andy Pettitte (11-7, 3.86, 1.29 WHIP) battles Tim Wakefield (6-7, 3.69, 1.16 WHIP). Wakefield went six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing three runs and five baserunners in his only start this season against New York on July 6.

Pettitte is coming off one of his best starts of the season, but he struggled in his only start against Boston, allowing nine hits, five runs, and three walks in just four-and-two-thirds innings on July 3.

On ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, Sidney Ponson (6-1, 4.02, 1.61 WHIP) takes on the surprising Jon Lester (8-3, 3.20, 1.31 WHIP). Lester has gone from a great comeback story to one of the better pitchers in the majors this season. On July 3, he threw a complete game shutout at Yankee Stadium, his only start against them this season.

Ponson is 2-0 with a 4.37 ERA as a Yankee in four starts, but 71 hits in 55.2 innings could be a recipe for disaster against an improved Boston lineup.

Prediction

The Yankees would love to take this series, but with a severe pitching disadvantage Sunday night, it looks like Boston will take two out of three at home. You never know with these two teams, and the Yankees are on fire, but Boston is 36-11 at home this season and is throwing two of their three best starters. That should be enough to win the series against a depleted Yankees squad.

Reach Mackenzie Kraemer at [e-mail] at his New York Jets blog, JetsDaily.com