AL East

As the New York Yankees thrust towards the playoffs, with a magic number of three as of this writing, some postseason roster decisions still loom large.

At this point, the concern for the Yankees is their pitching. Yes, CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and most of the bullpen will be fine. But beyond that (the other two starters) the Yankees have some issues.

The American League's playoff field is virtually set. The Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers will duke it out for the right to represent the American League in the World Series. Each team has some key strengths and a few glaring weaknesses. Find out who will represent the American League in the 2010 World Series.

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The offseason is looming closer than most Red Sox fans had hoped for. 

The look of the 2011 Red Sox is still very much up in the air, as the organization has a number of unanswered questions about who they will or will not choose to bring back.

It's very possible that an opening at first base or DH could appear next season for Boston, and they could very well choose to fill that void via free agency or the trade market.

One name that could be on the Red Sox opening day roster in 2011 might surprise some fans: Prince Fielder.

      The New York Yankees are in a slump.  A bad one at that.  However, they are still very much in the hunt.  With their magic number down to 3, and facing the Red Sox, there's a good chance that they will have clinched a playoff spot by the end of the weekend.  With many of the Yankees in their 30's, it's vital that they clinch by the weekend so that they can rest their starters.

The Red Sox jumped out to a quick 10-1 lead by the fifth inning, but the Yankees managed to come all the way back to the point where they put the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning, only to see Robinson Cano strikeout to end the game 10-8.

Here are some highlights:

Ichiro Suzuki just keeps hitting and hitting and hitting.

No matter the year, you can bank on the New York Yankees having a winning record, Albert Pujols hitting 30 plus HR’s, and Ichiro getting 200 hits.

One month ago and this conversation would not have even scratched the surface of Red Sox nation.

But after Jed Lowrie's 4-for-4 performance (including a home run and three singles) in a 10-8 win over the New York Yankees, the debate suddenly becomes a valid one.

Lowrie has become Boston's starting shortstop after a rotator cuff injury sidelined opening day starter Marco Scutaro.

Scutaro will be healthy for 2011 and will be in the final year of his contract. Lowrie, however, will also be healthy for a change and offers more upside than the 34-year old journeyman. 

Jose Bautista, the Blue Jays right fielder, became the 26th player in major league history to hit 50 home runs when he launched a Felix Hernandez pitch into the left field bullpen in the first inning of a 1-0 Toronto win.

It's a special number, no doubt.

For those of you who haven't heard, Jose Bautista blasted his 51st and 52nd home runs today. There have only been 26 players in the history of baseball to ever hit 50 home runs is a single season; it's really a remarkable accomplishment. But for some reason, Jose Bautista hasn't been getting any pub for what he has done this year.

The New York Yankees are not in the playoffs; their magic number remains frozen at three just for a spot in October.

Three appears to be getting bigger and growing harder to reach with each game. The Yankees need to stop playing Jekyll and Hyde since winning the first two games of their last series against the Tampa Bay Rays.