The New York Yankees finish their 2011 regular-season schedule with 10 games against American League East rivals, seven against the Tampa Bay Rays and three against the Boston Red Sox. Before that, however, the Yankees have a game Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium against the Minnesota Twins (1:05 p.m. ET, YES Network).
This, really, is a 'nuisance' game for the Yankees. It is a makeup game for an April 6 postponement, and will cost New York its final day off of the regular season.
Still, it provides the Yankees another chance to compile information as they hold tryouts for the final three spots in their postseason pitching rotation behind CC Sabathia. Today, A.J. Burnett (10-11, 5.20 ERA) gets the ball for New York. The veteran right-hander is trying to put a miserable August (11.91 ERA in five starts) behind him and show that he can be relied upon in the playoffs. Thus far in September Burnett is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts covering 17.1 innings.
Sabathia -- and probably Ivan Nova -- remain the only sure things in the Yankees' postseason rotation plans. Burnett, Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes are vying for spots.
Yankee closer Mariano Rivera needs just one save to pass Trevor Hoffman and become the all-time leader in that category.