YFSF

Earn It: Yanks-Rays Gamer

Jeremy Hellickson takes the mound for the Rays.  Bartolo Colon has been awful his last two times out.  He looks to dash the Rays playoff hopes, as Tampa sends 24-year-old Jeremy Hellickson.  With the exception of Nunez starting for Jeter, Girardi is sending the "A" lineup, which follows.  Comment away.

All Comers: Bring It, Tampa: Yanks-Rays Gamer

The Yankees send Hector Noesi to the mound at the Trop and face James Shields as the Rays battle for their playoff life. Lineups follow, comment away.

There's Still Time: Sox-Yanks Double-Header Part One

By the end of the day, Boston could be as much as three games up on Tampa, or tied with them for the last seat on the bus.  The Sox are still in the driver's seat for the wild card, and the Yankees are doing their best to help Boston's cause by starting one of the two or three worst starters in the American League.  Unfortunately, the Sox are sending one of the other ones.  Wakefield/Burnett at the Stadium starts now.  Lineups for game one follow, comment away.

Just For Kicks: Rays-Yanks Gamer

Here's the line-up for tonight:

D. Jeter SS
E. Nunez 2B
M. Teixeira DH
N. Swisher RF
A. Jones LF
J. Montero C
J. Posada 1B
B. Laird 3B
G. Golson CF

Colon pitching.

Suh-weet.

Delayed Gratification: Rays-Yanks Day/Night Part Day Gamer

“I absolutely love it. This is what you plot in the offseason, and you play the whole season to play meaningful games at this time of year. I know we’re not going to get any extra money for it, but we’ve already been in the playoffs for about 10 days. And it’s been fantastic.” — Joe Maddon

That's all well and good for the Rays, but I won't mind so much if the Yankees lock up their ticket to the post in game one of today's double header. Comment away.

Playoff Aspirations Create Strange Bedfellows: Rays-Yanks, O's-Sox Gamer

Wade Davis pitches for the Rays while Ivan Nova, looking for his 16th win, started with a 1-2-3 first inning in New York.  Meanwhile, Rick VandenHurk pitches for the Orioles in Boston, who send Erik Bedard.Comment away.

The Moment I Wake Up: Twins-Yanks, O's-Sox Make-Ups

It's make-up games before I even get in half of a day's work. Comment away.

Chasing The Sun: Yanks-Jays Gamer

Greetings, weekend readers. As I sit in Rochester International waiting for a delayed plane to take me to points west, I have had time to catch up on baseball happenings for the past few days. I missed Rivera’s 601st save last night, which was quite all right by me as I was occupied with family at a delightful dinner, but it did occur to me that watching Rivera close is one of those things as a fan that has become such a part of my experience of the game it is hard for me to imagine the day when it will no longer be the case. The opportunity to enjoy something special, especially those things that at a glance may seem quite ordinary was poignantly in parallel to my current reflection upon farewells bid to family this morning after a brief visit.

The Yankees play in Toronto, with Freddy Garcia and Brandon Morrow on the mound. Lineups follow, comment away.

Dee-Troit Party-Time Gamer

Congratulations to the Tiggers with their first clinch since Reagan was in office. The Yankees have scored six to take the lead in Toronto, and Boston hosts the Rays this afternoon.  Comment away.

Late Night High Note? Yanks-Ms Gamer

The last time Ivan Nova faced Seattle was May 28th at the Stadium, which was also the last time he didn't last at least five full in a start.  Tonight he looks for redemption as well as win number 16 on the season for the Yankees, who finish their left coast roadie against the Mariners and Jason Vargas.

Vargas has taken the loss in 8 of his last 12 starts with only 2 victories over that span; the Mariners are 12-17 in his starts on the year.  The Yankees are 18-6 in games Ivan Nova started.  Nova is no doubt having a better season in most metrics but it is worth noting that the Yanks average 6.48 runs in support of Nova while the Mariners put up a paltry 3.32 per nine for Vargas.

Gerbil would normally report on at least one game from the Emerald City road trip for y'all but it is not to be this year.  However, it is an ESPN game, so all you folks with 10pm start times, put on some coffee after the kids go to sleep and see if the 90-win Yankees can put a bit more space between themselves and the Sox, or dare I say any other of those eighty-something-wins "teams" from LosAngelheim/DallarlingtonFortWorth/TampaSt.Peter'sBurgByTheOldBay? I think I will collectively call them The Rayngels. Lineups follow, comment away.