As the 2010 season draws to a close, pennant races are taking shape for the final weeks, and the Wild Card picture is beginning to look more clear. In the case of the AL East, it’s quite clear that both teams will make the playoffs.
This does not mean that this race is of little importance. Quite the contrary, this Yankees-Rays showdown is shaping up to be one of the top September matchups. After the Sabathia-Price pitcher’s duel earlier this month, this four-game series is going to be hotly contested, with the winner likely winning the division and the loser being relegated to the Wild Card.
In this article I will discuss the hot and cold players on each team, possible game changers, and the pitching matchups before offering a prediction.