(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees try to lock up their second straight American League East crown this afternoon when they wrap up their regular season with the rubber match of a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
New York, which secured at least a wild card berth earlier in the week, can capture its 11th division title in the last 13 years as well as homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs with a win this afternoon and a Tampa Bay loss in Kansas City.
The Yankees split a doubleheader with the Red Sox on Saturday, winning the first game, 6-5, in 10 innings, before Boston returned the favor, as it pulled out a 7-6 win in 10 innings in the nightcap.
With Tampa Bay's win against the Royals on Saturday, both the Yankees and Rays are tied atop the division standings heading into the final day of the regular season. However, should both teams remain tied after today, the Rays will be the division winner because they won the head-to-head season series, 10-8.
Should the Yankees win the division they will host the AL West champion Texas Rangers on Wednesday. If it winds up as the wild card winner New York will open the ALDS in Minnesota on Wednesday against the AL Central champion Twins
Getting the call for the Yankees this afternoon will be right-hander Dustin Moseley, who will have to give his team some innings this afternoon, as New York used nine relievers in the twinbill on Saturday.
Moseley has bounced back and forth between the bullpen and rotation for the Yanks this season and is 4-3 with a 4.77 earned run average. He hasn't started a game since September 12 in Texas where he was charged with a loss after allowing four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"It's going to be good," Moseley said after Saturday's game. "I'll try to get out there, give it my all tomorrow ... I'm going to take it for what it's worth, go out there, do what I can do and hopefully we come out on top."
Moseley, though, beat the Red Sox the last time he faced them and is 2-0 in four games (three starts) against them with a 4.82 ERA.
Boston, meanwhile, will counter with righty John Lackey, who will close a disappointing first season with the Red Sox. After signing a five-year, $82 million deal this past winter, Lackey was wildly inconsistent, going 13-11 with a 4.47 ERA - significantly higher than his career average of 3.89.