The heated rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will kick off once again on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, when the two clash in the first of a three-game set with the wild-card spot at stake. Boston leads New York by five games heading into this series.
Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) makes his return to the rotation after missing over two weeks with a shoulder ailment. The 42-year-old knuckleballer earned a win in last start before the injury, beating Kansas City 8-2 on the road by allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings, striking out six along the way. However, the injury was serious enough for the Red Sox to acquire Paul Byrd from Cleveland, and Wakefield's advancing age must be a concern for the defending World Series champions. Wakefield is 0-1 in two starts against the Yankees this season, posting a 6.94 ERA.
The Yankees will counter with another veteran, 36-year-old Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17), who stumped Toronto on the road by scattering a run on five hits over seven strong innings in a 5-1 victory on the road. Pettitte, who also struck out four in the contest, is 11th in the American League in innings pitched, a remarkable statistic for a pitcher in his 14th year of big-league service. The lanky southpaw has split a pair of meetings with Boston in 2008 with an ERA of 5.41.
These two have split their 12 meetings so far this season, but one has to wonder how effective Wakefield will be in light of his recent injury. Pettitte, meanwhile, just keeps rolling along and has probably been the Yankees' best pitcher this season.
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