Five things to watch in the Yankees-Sox series

With the American League East title settled in New York, this weekend's Red Sox-Yankees series won't carry its usual drama.. It will be head-to-head on the field, but the two clubs now are playing with different goals and agendas in mind.. Here's the Yankees' to-do list while the collapsing Red Sox are in town:

Secure home-field advantage.

It's not as if the Yankees can just chillax and laugh at Boston's downfall. They have a little more work to do.

The Yankees' magic number to clinch the top seed in the AL playoffs is two over Detroit and one over Texas.

The Yankees were built for the new Stadium, and they enjoy playing at home. It behooves them to get as many games in the Bronx as they can. For the World Series, however, the National League's All-Star Game victory means the American League representative will open the Fall Classic on the road.

Make a king.

By playing the Rays and Red Sox exclusively in their final 10 games, the Yankees have been right in the middle of the exciting AL wild-card race. Their three straight victories over Tampa Bay bailed out the Red Sox.

The Yankees obviously aren't going to tank games this weekend, but there's no ignoring the power they have in shaping the playoff field. Just as they didn't mind last year when getting the AL wild card meant playing beatable Minnesota in the first round, they can prioritize resting players over going full-bore to defeat the Red Sox.

And right now, of the Red Sox, Rays and Angels -- the three clubs vying for the wild card -- which team seems the least dangerous? We say the Red Sox.

Rest and rehabilitate.

The Yankees are closing the regular season with 14 games in 13 days, without a day off, and unlike the prior few years, there's only one day off between Game 162 and AL Division Series Game 1.

That means you can look for Joe Girardi to ensure that his players, primarily his veterans and his relievers, don't work too hard this weekend and next week at Tampa Bay.

On the rehab front, Phil Hughes could test out his balky back Sunday. The Yankees hope the epidural that Hughes received Wednesday will propel him toward good health.

Decisions, decisions.

The Yankees have to construct a starting rotation, starting lineup and 25-man roster for the ALDS, so much of what they do against the Red Sox will constitute information-gathering.

On the rotation front, only Game 1 (CC Sabathia) and Game 2 (Ivan Nova) are settled. Freddy Garcia will try to show Friday night that he still has something left, and A.J. Burnett's fate might rest upon Hughes' health. Sabathia might throw a simulated game Sunday to prepare for the postseason opener next Friday.

Regarding the lineup, who will start at designated hitter in the playoffs? Could rookie Jesus Montero get the call against lefties and righties? Or will Girardi roll the dice on either Eric Chavez or Jorge Posada versus righthanders?

Is there space for both Chavez and Posada on the roster? What about Chris Dickerson, whom Girardi has deployed as a defensive replacement for Nick Swisher and a pinch runner?

Keep the hot hot, get the cold hot.

Try, in other words, to magically arrange it so that everyone is at the top of his game come ALDS Game 1. Most of the Yankees are enjoying good Septembers. Who isn't? Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Bartolo Colon and, as always, Burnett.

They say it's the hottest team, rather than the best team, that wins the World Series. At the moment, the Yankees are pretty hot. But the playoffs aren't quite here yet.