CC On The Mound As Yanks Open Up Series With The Giants

At this point, it's almost impossible to guess whether or not the Yankees are still in this postseason race. While they only appear to be a few games back in the Wild Card race with only nine games left, the Yankees' play on the field suggests they're not capable of pulling off this playoff run.

The Yankees went into Toronto after being swept by the Boston Red Sox, then lost Tuesday's opener against the Blue Jays 2-0, before coming back for a four-run 8th inning on Wednesday, followed by another disappointing game on Thursday, falling 6-2 after Joba Chamberlain gave up a three-run homerun to Adam Lind in the 7th.

Now the Yankees come back to the Bronx for their final homestand of the season, opening tonight for three-games against the San Francisco Giants, then finishing up with their final home game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

This won't just be the Yankees final stop of the stadium this season, because it will also be the last time that Mariano Rivera, and now Andy Pettitte, pitch in front of the New York crowd. Pettitte, who announced today that he is retiring, will make his final home start on Sunday.

Tonight's Lineup vs San Francisco:

Ichiro RF
Rodriguez DH
Cano 2B
Soriano LF
Granderson CF
Nunez 3B
Overbay 1B
Ryan SS
Murphy C
Sabathia LHP

Pitching Preview:

On a day when one Yankee left-hander is on the spotlight before the game, another talented lefty, CC Sabathia, will be in the spotlight during the game, as he takes the mound for the Yankees tonight against the Giants as they open up their six-game homestand.

Sabathia is hoping to turn things around on the mound as they season starts to come to an end, this has certainly been a year that CC not only wants to forget, but finish on a high note.

CC's last outing was a tough one against the Red Sox last Saturday when he was roughed up for nine hits, five runs in six innings.

"It's very frustrating, because everybody keeps telling me I'm close, but I don't see it," Sabathia said. "I want results and I know the team wants results. I know the fans want results. It's just tough not being able to deliver."

Taking the mound for the Giants is a former Cy Young winner, and a pitcher that no-hit the San Diego Padres earlier in the season in Tim Lincecum, won four straight decisions for the Giants.

Lincecum allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out six in six innings for his 10th win of the season during his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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