In the very last game before the start of the MLB post-season, the New York Yankees will go up against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.  One game atop the AL East above the relentless Baltimore Orioles, the Bronx Bombers have an opportunity to head into the 2012 playoffs with their twelfth division championship in the last fifteen years if they can defeat the Red Sox.  The win would also give New York home field advantage up until the World Series, as they'd then sport the best AL record.

However, if the Yankees happen to lose and the Orioles are victorious against the Tampa Bay Rays, then the two teams would face off at Camden Yards on Thursday.  Under these circumstances, the loser of the one game playoff would go into the wild-card game against the loser of the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics game.

The noticeably consistent Hiroki Kuroda (15-11, 3.34 ERA), will take the mound for New York.  The Japanese pitcher has compiled six plus innings in all but one of his starts, posting a 7-4 record since the All-Star game.  More importantly, Kuroda has also been lights out at Yankee Stadium holding opposing hitters to a .216 average and sporting a 2.73 ERA there. 

The struggling Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-6, 7.68 ERA) will be on the hill for Boston.  Much like his last place ball club, the injury-ridden pitcher hasn't fared too well this year.  In four September outings, Dice K is 0-3 with a whopping 13.50 ERA and hasn't pitched since Sept. 19. 

New York is hoping that 1st baseman Mark Teixeira can bounce back offensively after going 0-for-6 and leaving nine men on base since returning to the lineup on Tuesday.  Tex will most likely hit behind Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson in the batting order on Wednesday.

While Granderson is fourth in the league in homers, Cano isn't playing too shabby himself as of late.  The star 2nd baseman has had eight straight multi-hit games.

Unlike the years past, the rival Boston Red Sox will look to play the role of spoiler against the contending Yankees.  Hence, the outcome of the final game will be a crucial one and determine the exact path New York must take on their quest for another World Series championship.

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