Red Sox Look to Head Home with a Sweep

Today's game at Yankee Stadium could be the last trip to the Bronx for the Boston Red Sox. With the New York Yankees falling seven games back of Boston in the AL Wild Card standings, their chances of making the playoffs are very slim. Today could be a historic day at the stadium.

If the Red Sox are to revisit Yankee Stadium this year then the Yankees are going to have to complete a historic comeback. Today's pitching matchup is a battle of the aces. Taking the hill for Boston is lefty Jon Lester. Lester has been hands down the most consistent player for the Red Sox this year. Lester is 12-5 with a 3.49 ERA this year.

However, Lester is coming off of his worst start of the year. He lasted just 2.1 innings allowing seven runs on eight hits. It's a start that Lester will want to forget. Lester has had success against the Yankees this year. In three career starts against New York Lester is 2-0 with 4.12 ERA.

Toeing the rubber for New York will be the savvy veteran Mike Mussina. Mussina has also been the Yankees most consistent pitcher. Mussina is 16-7 with a 3.45 ERA. He is trying to get to 20 wins this year to pad his Hall of Fame resume. There is no pitcher in the Hall of Fame that hasn't won 20 games in a single season.

Mussina is coming off his best start of the year at Baltimore. He went six innings allowing four runs. Although he didn't pick up the win, it was a strong performance for Mussina. The Yankees are looking to Mussina to keep their season alive. Last time against the BoSox he threw six shutout innings in a 2-1 victory for the Bombers.

With 30 games remaining, the Red Sox maintain a 2.5 game lead in the AL wild card and are 3.5 games back of the Rays. The Red Sox are still eying the division with six contests vs. Tampa Bay left. A win today for Boston would be huge. Heading into a six-game homestand with a four-game win streak would be a huge boost.

Left fielder Jason Bay, who is 4-for-8 with six RBI in the first two games of the series, has responded well to the pressure. A win today for the Sox could just about put the Yankees away for the season. The Yankees looked at this series as a way to slowly chip away at the wild card lead, but they have only regressed.

A year ago today Mussina had lost his starting role in the rotation. Now he is trying to save his team's season.

Things to Watch

Bobby Abreu walked in last night’s game. He has now reached base safely in 20-straight home games. Xavier Nady extended his nine-game hitting streak last night.
Alex Rodriguez is hitting .360 and 39 RBI in the last 37 games and five of his last seven hits have been doubles.

Mark Kotsay will make his first start for the Red Sox today in right field. A third newcomer on a third day for the BoSox. We'll see if Kotsay responds to the pressure as well as Byrd and Bay. Youkilis reached base last night for the 36th straight game. It is the longest active streak in the majors.

Dustin Pedroia hit his first career grand slam yesterday. He had a season high 4 RBI. It was his 51st multi-hit game of the year. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis look to stay in the hunt for the AL batting champ.

Prediction

Jon Lester sets the tone early on the mound and eventually wears Mussina out. The Boston bats will come up big again today against Mussina. Boston takes this one 5-1. Game time is set for 1:05 on NESN and the YES Network.