American League division series: Yankees vs. Twins

Game 1: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. PDT

New York ( CC Sabathia, 21-7, 3.18)

at Minnesota (Francisco Liriano, 14-10, 3.62)

Game 2: Thursday, 3 p.m.

New York (Andy Pettitte, 11-3, 3.28)

at Minnesota (Carl Pavano, 17-11, 3.75)

Game 3: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Minnesota (Brian Duensing, 10-3, 2.62)

at New York (Phil Hughes, 18-8, 4.19)

Game 4: Sunday, TBA*

Minnesota (Nick Blackburn, 10-12, 5.42)

at New York (Sabathia)

Game 5: Oct. 12, TBA*

New York (Pettitte)

at Minnesota (Liriano)

*if necessary

PROJECTED LINEUPS

YANKEES

Derek Jeter, SS (.270, 10, 67)

Nick Swisher, RF (.288, 29, 89)

Mark Teixeira, 1B (.256, 33, 108)

Alex Rodriguez, 3B (.270, 30, 125)

Robinson Cano, 2B (.319, 29, 109)

Jorge Posada, C (.248, 18, 57)

Curtis Granderson, CF (.247, 24, 67)

Marcus Thames, DH (.288, 12, 33)

Brett Gardner, LF (.277, 5, 47)

TWINS

Denard Span, CF (.264, 3, 58)

Orlando Hudson, 2B (.268, 6, 37)

Joe Mauer, C (.327, 9, 75)

Delmon Young, LF (.298, 21, 112)

Jim Thome, DH (.283, 25, 59)

Michael Cuddyer, 1B (.271, 14, 81)

Jason Kubel, RF (.249, 21, 92)

Danny Valencia, 3B (.311, 7, 40)

J.J. Hardy, SS (.268, 6, 38)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

The Twins have lost nine consecutive playoff games, including a sweep by the Yankees last season. In the absence of injured star Justin Morneau, the Twins have turned their cleanup spot over to Delmon Young, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, who hit .357 with men in scoring position. None of Minnesota’s starting pitchers has started and won a postseason game. The Twins have shored up their bullpen nicely, acquiring Matt Capps (16 saves in 18 opportunities) as their closer and former Angels closer Brian Fuentes, who has held left-handed hitters to a .128 batting average, as a setup man. The Twins walked the fewest batters of any major league team; the Yankees led the majors in on-base percentage. The Twins are lined up to start three left-handers in a five-game series; the Yankees are 31-27 in games started by left-handers. The defending champion Yankees led the majors in runs, with most-valuable-player candidate Robinson Cano outshining Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. CC Sabathia was 21-7 with a 3.18 earned-run average, but the Yankees lost 17 of their last 26 games, largely because of poor starting pitching. Andy Pettitte, the all-time leader in postseason victories, has a 6.75 ERA in three starts since returning from a groin injury. And Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in postseason history, has struggled over the last month. He has given up runs in three of his last five appearances and four of his last seven, including his last two appearances on a second consecutive day.