So this is it. If the Yankees are going to make a run at the second wildcard spot –they are 4.5 games back with three teams ahead of them — it has to start today. There are 23 games remaining and I’d say they need to go at least 17-6 to have a shot at the postseason. Does this team have a 17-6 run in it? It’s hard to believe having watched them all year but stranger things have happened. The 1995 Yankees went 19-4 in their last 23 games to sneak into the postseason, remember. Here is the Royals lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. DH Derek Jeter
3. 2B Martin Prado
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. RF Carlos Beltran
6. 3B Chase Headley
7. LF Zelous Wheeler
8. SS Brendan Ryan
9. C John Ryan Murphy
   RHP Brandon McCarthy

It’s hot and cloudy in New York, and there are scattered storms in the forecast just about all afternoon and evening. Who really knows with the weather, but it sure looks like it could impact the game at some point today. First pitch is scheduled for a bit after 4pm ET and you can watch only on Fox Sports1. There is no YES broadcast. Here are the Fox Sports1 television listings. Enjoy the game.

Updates: In case you missed it earlier, Masahiro Tanaka (elbow) threw his bullpen session as scheduled and everything went fine … Joe Girardi said Frankie Cervelli is dealing with migraines unrelated to his concussion history. Austin Romine was officially called up.

Am I the only one who finds myself looking forward to Michael Pineda starts more than anything right now? I can’t be, right? I mean, Shane Greene and Brandon McCarthy are cool, so is Hiroki Kuroda, but Big Mike is the star of the pitching show. He’s been awesome just about every time out this year. Hoping to see more of the same tonight. Here is the Royals lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. LF Brett Gardner
4. DH Carlos Beltran
5. C Brian McCann
6. 1B Mark Teixeira
7. 2B Stephen Drew
8. 3B Chase Headley
9. RF Ichiro Suzuki
   RHP Michael Pineda

It’s warm and humid in New York this evening, but the sky is clear and there is no rain in the forecast. Tonight’s game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and you can watch on YES. Enjoy the game.

Injury Update: Martin Prado (hamstring) did some more running and baseball activities but obviously is not back in the lineup just yet. He said he hopes to be available to pinch-hit tonight.

For the third straight series, the Yankees have split the first two games with their opponent. They then lost the third game of the series to both the Tigers and Blue Jays last week. Tonight the Yankees have a chance to win their first series in more than a week if they can manage to beat the Red Sox in tonight’s rubber game. Boston has all but checked out for the season already, but that doesn’t make them a push-over. Here is the Red Sox lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. LF Brett Gardner
4. DH Carlos Beltran
5. 1B Mark Teixeira
6. C Brian McCann
7. 3B Chase Headley
8. 2B Stephen Drew
9. RF Ichiro Suzuki
   LHP Chris Capuano

It’s another great night for baseball in New York. Clear sky and warm but not too hot or humid. Nice night to spend at the park. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin at 7:05pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network nationally, depending on where you live. Enjoy the game.

Last night did not go well for the Yankees at all. They didn’t pitch well and they couldn’t get out of their own way offensively. But this is baseball, and they’re back at it tonight with a chance to win. Both my favorite and least favorite thing about baseball is that they play every single day. Forget about last night and get back in the win column tonight. Here is the Red Sox lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. LF Brett Gardner
4. DH Carlos Beltran
5. 1B Mark Teixeira
6. C Brian McCann
7. 3B Chase Headley
8. 2B Stephen Drew
9. RF Ichiro Suzuki
   RHP Hiroki Kuroda

It’s much nicer in New York today than it has been the last few days. Cooler and not nearly as humid, with just a few clouds. Nice night for baseball. Tonight’s game will start a little after 7pm ET and you’ll be able to watch on YES locally and ESPN nationally. Enjoy the game.

Yay, Yankees-Red Sox. Yay. The rivalry has definitely lost some luster through the years and that has been especially true this season, with the Red Sox quickly falling out of the contention and the Yankees slowly fading in the standings. Is it better to burn out or fade away? I’m thinking fade away. I prefer to have a September baseball game make me feel something other than complete indifference.

Anyway, the Yankees start a nice nine-game, ten-day homestand tonight, and they’re going to need to win about seven of the nine games to have a chance at the second wildcard spot. That probably won’t happen, but that’s okay. It’s worth a try though. Boston is out of it and they’ve been playing terribly of late, so let’s start the homestand off on the right foot. Here is the Red Sox lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. LF Brett Gardner
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. RF Carlos Beltran
6. DH Brian McCann
7. 2B Martin Prado
8. 3B Chase Headley
9. C Frankie Cervelli
   RHP Shane Greene

It is crazy hot and humid in New York. The sky is nice and blue, but I wouldn’t exactly call this weather comfortable. It’s like standing in soup. This evening’s game will begin at 7:05 pm ET, and you can watch on either YES locally or MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the game, everyone.

Updates: In case you missed it earlier, the Yankees called up eight players now that rosters have expanded in September … tests came back clean on Masahiro Tanaka‘s sore arm and he has been diagnosed with fatigue … Ellsbury’s big week earned him AL Player of the Week honors.

The Yankees were one-hit for the first time in five years yesterday, but they still have a chance to take this series from the Blue Jays this afternoon. There’s an off-day tomorrow and then rosters expand, so grab this win, get some rest, then add some new players. Nice and easy. Here is the Blue Jays lineup and here is the Yankees lineup:

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. DH Derek Jeter
3. 2B Martin Prado
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. RF Carlos Beltran
6. 3B Chase Headley
7. C Frankie Cervelli
8. SS Stephen Drew
9. LF Zelous Wheeler
   RHP Brandon McCarthy

It’s cool and sunny in Toronto, so the Rogers Centre roof will probably be open. This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start at 1:07pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.