BOSTON -- Bobby Abreu doesn't know if his time in a Yankees uniform is nearing an end, but he believes he has stated a convincing case for why he should remain in New York past Sunday's season finale.

Since arriving in New York in a July 2006 trade with the Phillies, Abreu -- a free agent after this season -- has helped lend a stabilizing presence to the heart of the Yankees' lineup.

"I think they can see what kind of player I am," Abreu said of the Yankees' front office. "I haven't changed anything. I just keep doing my things and put my numbers every year up there and do my job like a third hitter.

"I'm not trying to do more than I can do -- just always be the same. I think I've been doing good the last two years and two months over here."

Abreu's offensive consistency has been a hallmark of his career. With 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season, Abreu became just the third player in Major League history to record eight seasons of 20 homers and 20 steals, joining Bobby and Barry Bonds, who each had 10 such seasons.

The Yankees have found him reliable -- Abreu has played in at least 150 games in 11 straight seasons, and he logged an RBI on Friday at Fenway Park to join Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez as the only players to post at least 100 RBIs in each of the past six seasons.

"That's pretty much what I try to do -- being consistent is one of the most important things," Abreu said. "I don't want to go high one year and the other year go down. If I can go high every year, it's better."

Abreu said he was proud of the streak of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, which represents his variety of abilities, and he hopes the Yankees feel the same way.

"It's hard to describe what's going to happen," Abreu said. "Of course I want to stay here. I want to come back next year, but who knows what's going to happen? We have to just wait to see how it's going to be."

Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP Sidney Ponson (8-5, 5.21 ERA)
For the middle game of their series at Fenway Park, the Yankees go with Ponson, as Andy Pettitte has been shut down for the remainder of the season. The start will be Ponson's first since Sept. 13, when he was rapped for four runs in 3 1/3 innings and removed from the Yankees' starting rotation. Ponson had one win in his previous seven starts and a 8.18 ERA over that span when New York decided to look elsewhere. He has lost twice to the Red Sox this season as a member of the Yankees -- on July 27 and Aug. 27.

BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80 ERA)
Matsuzaka will get one final tune-up before pitching in the postseason. The right-hander has pitched just once against the Yankees this season, taking a no-decision on April 13. In that start, Matsuzaka gave up five hits and four runs in five innings, walking six. In 15 Fenway Park starts this season, Matsuzaka is 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA.

Tidbits
The Yankees set season highs with 19 runs and 20 hits on Friday. They last scored 19 or more runs in a 21-4 win against the Rays on July 22, 2007. ... Derek Jeter left Friday's game early with soreness in his left hand and is not expected to play on Saturday, though he may play on Sunday. ... Abreu has reached safely in each of his past 26 games at Fenway Park since June 26, 2004, including all 24 such contests since he joined the Yankees. ... Johnny Damon homered on Friday for the sixth time this month, his highest career total for September. It is the most homers he has hit in any month since belting nine in August 2006. ... Brett Gardner, who had four RBIs on Friday, is riding a hitting streak of a career-high eight games, during which he is batting .371 (13-for-35) with three doubles and a triple.

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Up next
• Sunday: Yankees (Mike Mussina, 19-9, 3.47) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield, 10-11, 4.24), 1:35 p.m. ET