Yankees vs. Red Sox: The End Games (2)

UPDATED, BELOW

The Red Sox remaining games at home through the end of the season

Devil Rays -- 2 games -- home vs. Devil Rays: 5-2 to date
Yankees -- 3 games -- home vs. Yankees: 4-2
Athletics -- 2 games -- home vs. Athletics: 1-1
Twins -- 4 games -- home vs. Twins: 0-0

The Red Sox away

Blue Jays -- 3 games -- away vs. Blue Jays: 5-1
Devil Rays -- 3 games -- away vs. Devil Rays: 4-2

The Yankees at home

Orioles -- 3 games -- home vs. Orioles: 2-4
Blue Jays -- 4 games -- home vs. Blue Jays: 3-2

The Yankees away

Blue Jays -- 3 games -- away vs. Blue Jays: 3-3
Red Sox -- 3 games -- away vs. Red Sox: 2-4
Devil Rays -- 3 games -- away vs. Devil Rays: 3-3
Orioles -- 3 games -- away vs. Orioles: 2-4

Combined home and away records against remaining opponents

Red Sox: 19-8
Yankees: 15-20

Current standings

Red Sox lead Yankees by 5 games (The Yankees' deficit is the same as it was after the games of August 30. That's zero progress by the Yankees in a span of 11 days. Plus, the remaining schedule is more favorable to the Red Sox now than it was 11 days ago.)

Conclusion

Draw your own, bearing in mind that "past performance is no guarantee of future results."

Here's mine:

• The three-game series between New York and Boston (in Boston) this coming weekend (Sept. 14-16) will be decisive.

• If the Yankees trail the Red Sox by 5 games or less when the two teams meet, the Yankees will win the American League East title if (and only if) they sweep the Red Sox.

• Conversely, no matter where the Sox and Yankees stand entering the series, the Sox will take the title if they beat the Yankees at least twice.

UPDATE (09/14/07, 11:30 a.m. CT): The Yankees trail the Red Sox by 5.5 games going into their three-game series. So, the Yankees still have a shot at the AL East title, but only if they sweep the Red Sox.