The Battle for Third Place
TORONTO — With a win tonight, the Blue Jays would move into a tie with the Yankees for third place in the American League East. That’d be a big step for this Toronto club, which has labored all season long through offensive lulls and multiple injuries.
Still, as much as the Jays have kept their postseason aspirations dimly lit, it’ll take a near miracle — a Rockies-like performance down the stretch — for Toronto to make the playoffs. Let’s say the Jays need 90 wins to get in, that means they’d have to go 25-12 the rest of the way.
With the Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Twins and White Sox all on the schedule still, that’s going to be a tough feat for Toronto to accomplish. Stranger things have happened, sure, but the Jays have to keep going like they have this past week. They can’t afford any lapses, no matter how slight.
Today’s lineups:
NEW YORK (66-59) TORONTO (65-60)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
YANKEES
Johnny Damon, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jason Giambi, 1B
Xavier Nady, LF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Jose Molina, C
PITCHING: LHP Andy Pettitte (12-9, 4.30)
BLUE JAYS
David Eckstein, 2B
Marco Scutaro, 3B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, LF
Rod Barajas, C
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Kevin Mench, DH
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: LHP David Purcey (2-3, 5.93)
Major League Bastian 
Jordan,
It also could be called the battle for 4th place right?
This is the only game the Yankees have the starting pitching edge. The Steinbrenner’s, Hank & Hal will be on a spending spree this winter. It must be nice if your a free agent with the Yankees more than willing to give there $$$$ to anyone that can walk and chew gum at the same time. LOL!!! They’ll be given alot of blank checks to agent’s and asking them to write any amount!!
Like I said Purcey is no good.
Garry
Well, the real problem is you don’t beat the NY Yanks by only scoring 1 run. The Yanks average 5-6 runs a game.
Maybe it was the steroids LOL.
Anybody watching the Olympics Canada can break It’s Medal record,GOOOOOO CANADA.