AROUND THE MAJORS

The Yankee counterpart of A’s right-hander Gil Heredia in Game 1 of the division series tonight will be the same guy who is staring out at him from his locker.

Heredia, the well-traveled 34-year-old who is playing for his fourth organization, has stored a Roger Clemens’ baseball card in his locker ever since he signed with the A’s in 1998.

“It’s a great honor to be facing Roger Clemens in the playoffs,” Heredia said. “I mean, he’s awesome. He gives me that fire and desire to be, you know, to look up to somebody like that.”

Heredia faced Clemens on opening day in 1999 and got a no-decision, so it won’t be the first time he’ll have faced his idol. But it will be Heredia’s first playoff game. Asked Monday if it has hit him that he’s starting Game 1 tonight, Heredia said:

“Not really . . . I’m sure it’s going to hit me [tonight], though. So if I throw that first pitch against the screen, I’m going to think of you.”