Though the Yankees are still alive with just six games left to play, a single loss or a single Red Sox win will eliminate them from the postseason for the first time since 1993. Elimination is all the more likely because the Yankees will be facing both A.J. Burnett and Roy Halladay yet again in this series, having already gone 2-7 in games started by those two this season. Of the Yankees’ 18 games against Toronto this season, 11 will have been started by Halladay or Burnett. The Yanks are 5-1 against Toronto this year in games started by other Blue Jay pitchers.

Fortunately, Mike Mussina has drawn Jesse Litsch tonight as he goes for this 19th win of the season. Mussina, who will start the final game of the season in Boston, has won 19 games in a season twice in his career, but never for the Yankees. The Yankees are 21-11 in Mussina’s starts this year, the fourth time in his eight years with the Bombers that the team has won 20 or more of the games he has started.

Toronto Blue Jays

2008 Record: 83-73 (.532)
2008 Pythagorean Record: 89-67 (.572)

Manager: Cito Gaston
General Manager: J.P. Ricciardi

Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Rogers Centre (100/99)

Who’s Replaced Whom:
Brad Wilkerson (DL) has replaced David Eckstein

25-man Roster:

1B – Lyle Overbay (L)
2B – Joe Inglett (L)
SS – Marco Scutaro (R)
3B – Scott Rolen (R)
C – Gregg Zaun (S)
RF – Alex Rios (R)
CF – Vernon Wells (R)
LF – Travis Snider (L)
DH – Adam Lind (L)

Bench:

R – John McDonald (IF)
R – Jose Bautista (UT)
L – Brad Wilkerson (OF/1B)
R – Kevin Mench (OF)*
R – Curtis Thigpen (C)*
R – Rod Barajas (C)**

Rotation:

R – Roy Halladay
R – Shaun Marcum*
L – David Purcey
R – Jesse Litsch
R – A.J. Burnett

Bullpen:

L – B.J. Ryan
L – Scott Downs
R – Jason Frasor
L – Jesse Carlson
R – Shawn Camp
R – Brandon League
L – Brian Tallet
L – John Parrish
R – Brian Wolfe*
R – Scott Richmond*

*September call-up; **Likely out for the season with a hamstring tear

15-day DL: R – Dustin McGowan, R – Jeremy Accardo
60-day DL: R – Aaron Hill (2B), R – Casey Janssen

Typical Lineup:

L – Joe Inglett (2B)
R – Marco Scutaro (SS)
R – Alex Rios (RF)
R – Vernon Wells (CF)
L – Adam Lind (LF)
L – Lyle Overbay (1B)
R – Scott Rolen (3B)
S – Gregg Zaun (C)
L – Travis Snider (LF)