Hughes And Yanks Try To Fight Off Elimination Against The Rays

Last night, the Baltimore Orioles were eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in 10 innings last night. Tonight in the Bronx, the Yankees could be the next team to join them.

The Yankees are entering tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays five games back of the second Wild Card spot with five games left to play. As I discussed earlier today, their playoff probability is currently at zero percent. With a loss tonight, or even a win by the Cleveland Indians, the Yankees would officially be eliminated from postseason contention.

Should it happen tonight, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark, tomorrow would be the first time since October 3rd of 1993 that the Yankees played a meaningless game at Yankees Stadium.

The Yankees are coming off a terrible 7-0 loss to the Rays last night at Yankee Stadium in the series opener against Tampa. Hiroki Kuroda gave up three runs in the 1st inning, and the Yanks' offense couldn't do anything to capitalize on the six walks issued by Matt Moore over five shutout innings.

Tonight's Lineup vs Tampa Bay:

Nunez 3B
Rodriguez DH
Cano 2B
Soriano LF
Wells RF
Reynolds 1B
Granderson CF
Ryan SS
Stewart C
Hughes RHP

Pitching Preview:

With their season on the line, their backs against the wall, the Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound in place of the injured CC Sabathia, who was placed on the DL on Monday with a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

Hughes, the Yankees' former first-round pick, has been having possibly the worst season since he's been in the Bronx, and if all goes as it should this offseason, this will Hughes' last start as a member of the New York Yankees.

His 4-13 record and 5.07 ERA has been far below the Yankees have wanted to see out of Hughes, hoping that he would be able to show them that he deserves to be resigned this offseason, but things haven't  panned out that way, and Hughes is likely out the door for good this winter.

Hughes is very likely to have a very small leash from manger Joe Girardi tonight, as he has had on Hughes in his last few starts, and if he runs into trouble at any point early in the game, it's highly likely that we'll see David Huff called into action.

If you thought things could not be more against the Yankees tonight with Hughes in the mound in a possible elimination game, taking the mound for the Rays will be their first-overall pick in the 2007 draft, left-hander David Price. Price will making his last start of the season for Tampa, and he's looking for his first win since August 24th.

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