Key series on tap all over major leagues

Tonight at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox meet in the first of six games to be contested between the teams over the next two weekends, games that will go a long way toward deciding the American League East championship, which the Yankees have owned for six years.

But with Boston and New York both likely to make the playoffs, the most decisive series this weekend may be played in California.

In the A.L. West, where Oakland enjoys a two-game advantage over the Anaheim Angels and a five-game cushion over the Texas Rangers, the Angels and Rangers meet for three games in Anaheim that might serve as the Rangers’ final stand.

Meantime, in the N.L. wild-card race — which is simply the biggest free-for-all in the history of Commissioner Bud Selig’s favorite creation — two of the five teams bunched within three games of each other face off when the San Diego Padres visit San Francisco’s SBC Park.

Two of the remaining contenders — the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros — enjoy series against cupcakes Cincinnati and Colorado, respectively, while the weather-challenged Florida Marlins finally get to return home to face the N.L. East-leading Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs play 14 of their final 17 games of the season (beginning tonight) against the woeful Reds, Pirates and Mets, by far the easiest schedule of any of the wild-card contenders.

But the Giants face only playoff contenders or division leaders starting today through the end of the season.