Andy Pettitte is 8-1 over his last ten, but his start this week is against the team he lost to. Oh, and the winning starter is his opponent again.

We are heading in to crunch time here – the final week of the regular season. Do not worry though – this will neither be the end of daily baseball at SG nor of A Look Ahead specifically. We will continue to bring daily baseball coverage throughout the offseason, and A Look Ahead will be here to break down each of the playoffs series as my Red Sox go on to another World Series – err, I mean, as baseball winds down to another World Series. Yeah, that’s what I meant.

Series of the Week – Early Edition

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Tuesday through Thursday

With no head-to-head matchups between teams in contention, the task became finding a series with the best potential for upset and for importance, and this is it. The Yankees could still win the division, but they will have to do so on the road. How much “on the road” does Tampa Bay count as though? The Red Sox essentially play in Fenway South when they go there, and the Yankees have always considered Tampa to be one of the boroughs – Steinbrenner would certainly trade Queens for the Bay Area. One would hope that, someday, the Devil Rays could build a fan base that is more than just fans of the visiting club, but that day is not here yet nor will it be anytime soon.

The series kicks off with Andy Pettitte (14-8, 3.79) matching up with Jason Hammel (2-5, 5.88). Hammel has pitched much better of late than his ERA and record might indicate, with quality starts in each of his last three outings, although his record during that time is 0-1 thanks to the team. Hammel faced the Yankees on September 2 in the Bronx, and he picked up the win there after holding the Yankees to five hits and one earned run, and he struck out seven while walking none.

While Alex Rodriguez will get much of the credit for the Yankees making the playoffs, and deservedly so, but the team would have been dead in the water had Pettitte not stepped up like he has this season, especially in the second half. Over his last ten games, Pettitte is 8-1 with a 3.12 ERA. That one loss though did come against these Rays on September 2, allowing eleven hits, two walks, and five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The hitter to watch for the Devil Rays in this series is Delmon Young. Is he going to be the Rookie of the Year? Dustin Pedroia and a certain Nation say otherwise, but Young has made a strong case for himself too. Young is hitting .291 with 12 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and 91 RBI in 618 at-bats this season, and he has played quite solidly defensively as well.

Our spotlighted Yankee is Jason Giambi, who has been horrific in the month of September. With 36 at-bats this month, Giambi is hitting just .139, with two home runs, seven RBI, and five runs scored. If Giambi does not turn things around, and quickly, he might find the Yankees choosing other, better options come playoff time.

Series of the Week – Weekend Edition

San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers

Depending on what happens between now and Friday, all this series might do is determine the Wild Card, National League Central, and/or the National League West. No biggie there. As of this writing, the Cubs barely lead over the Brewers, the Diamondbacks barely lead over the Padres, and the Padres barely lead over the Phillies and the resurgent Rockies. There will certainly be many eyes on this one if things stay largely the same over the next four days.

The Brewers are very much hoping and praying that Ben Sheets is able to come back before the season’s end. If he is able to, he is the scheduled starter for Friday against Greg Maddux. When healthy, Sheets is supposed to be the Brewers’ ace, but when healthy has always been the qualifier that has been attached to Sheets. This year, Sheets is 12-5 with a 3.82 ERA, but he has struggled of late, going 5-2 with a 4.64 ERA over his last ten games.

Maddux has gone the other direction – while he has had a solid season, with a record of 13-10 and a 3.95 ERA, he has been even better as the season has gone on. Over his last ten starts, Maddux is 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 32 while walking just two. Both of those walks came in his last start.

The hitter we want to focus on in the Brewers’ lineup is Corey Hart. The Brewers’ outfielder needs his sunglasses this month, as he has been red hot. In 76 at-bats this month, Hart is hitting .355 with four home runs, fourteen RBI, and seventeen runs, and he even swiped a bag. A little bit of everything here for his fantasy owners.

Over on the Padres’ side, a little bit of hitting down the stretch from Brian Giles might have redeemed his season just a tad, but, nope, he could not even do that. This month, Giles is hitting a woeful .158 in 76 at-bats, with three home runs and five RBI. Yes, just five RBI, and, oh, two of those homers came in the same game. Since September 11, Giles has just one RBI. Truly, horribly sad, and for this, they gave up Oliver Perez and Jason Bay.