Battle for the Division

Mark Texieira Hopes to Provide a Spark in his Return Tonight

Throw out the first 159 games. It is now a 3 game season for the New York Yankees, who head home tonight to face off against the rival Boston Red Sox. The Yanks are back in the Bronx, currently tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the division lead with only these last 3 games remaining and both teams have a legitimate chance to take the division.

Even though both teams have already clinched playoff berths, winning the division has an added weight this season. This is because the MLB decided to add one wild card team to the playoffs this season and those two wild cards are not guaranteed a spot in the Divisional Series. Instead, the added wild card team will battle the first place wild card team in a one game playoff to advance into the normal 5-game first round.

If the Yankees and Orioles are still tied in 3 days, the two teams will have a one game playoff themselves Thursday in Baltimore. The winner of this game would be crowned division champion and advance to the American League Divisional Series, and the loser dropping into the wild card playoff game on Friday.

The Orioles will be in Tampa Bay to close out the season against the pesky Rays, so for the next few days Yankee fans will be rooting for wins for the Yanks while also "scoreboard watching" that series. The Yankees will be rooting for the Rays to at least take one from the Orioles because in a one game playoff anything can happen, and your playoff hopes will come to an end very prematurely.

One Last Thing: The Red Sox are beat up and probably just want this season to be over. The Yankees need to take advantage of this a pounce on them early in each game, crushing any hopes they have. Also, the Rays are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, and if last year is any indication about how wild a season can finish, so they will play their hearts out for at least tonight. CC needs to step up and get the Yanks a W tonight, it may clinch the division in the end.