(Sports Network) - Former first-round pick Phil Hughes gets the start on day one of a new era of New York Yankees baseball tonight, when the Bronx Bombers visit Rogers Centre for the second of three games with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees enter the game one day after officially falling out of contention for the American League playoffs, which they'll miss for the first time since finishing second in the AL East in 1993.

New York won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000, and was beaten in the Fall Classic in 2001 and 2003.

Hughes, the 23rd overall pick in the 2004 draft, reached the majors and made 13 starts with the Yankees last season, winning five times and posting a 4.46 earned run average in 72 2/3 innings.

He was the subject of offseason trade rumors and nearly dealt to Minnesota for Johan Santana, but remained with New York and made his 2008 debut on April 3, getting a no-decision in a 3-2 defeat of Toronto.

Six more starts followed in April but weren't nearly as stellar, resulting in four losses and a 9.00 ERA for Hughes by the end of the month.

He spent the next four months either injured or in the minors and didn't return until September 17, when he allowed four hits and a run in four innings of the Yankees' 5-1 defeat of the Chicago White Sox.

Hughes is 1-1 in four career starts against Toronto with a 4.22 ERA in 21 1/3 innings.

For the Blue Jays, right-hander A.J. Burnett makes the final start of his best major-league season.

The 31-year-old Arkansas native, whose previous best single-season win total was 12, has won 18 times in 34 appearances (33 starts) in 2008 and recorded a 6-1 mark in his last 10 outings.

Burnett strung together wins over the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox on September 9 and 13, allowing four hits in 13 scoreless innings. His last loss came August 29 against the Yankees, when he allowed seven hits and two runs in eight innings of a 2-1 defeat.

Lifetime against New York, however, Burnett is 6-3 in 10 starts with a 2.58 ERA over 69 2/3 innings.

In Tuesday's series opener, Mike Mussina was solid on the mound in posting his 19th win of the year and Jason Giambi clubbed his 32nd homer in the Yankees' 3-1 victory.

Mussina (19-9) allowed just four hits and fanned six batters over five scoreless frames to become the first pitcher in major league history to win 19 games three times without ever winning 20. That could change, though, as Mussina is set to start the final game of the season in Boston this Sunday.

Mariano Rivera tossed a perfect ninth for New York to record his 38th save of the year.

Robinson Cano drove in a run and scored for the Yankees, who have won six straight games. Brett Gardner went 2-for-4 while Giambi also scored twice.

New York was without captain Derek Jeter on Tuesday. The All-Star shortstop was not in the lineup after getting hit on his left hand Saturday by a pitch from Baltimore's Jim Miller. Cody Ransom got the start at shortstop instead, although Jeter came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.

Jesse Litsch (12-9) took the loss after giving up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over seven frames. He also struck out eight while walking only one.

Scott Rolen drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of four. Adam Lind went 2-for-3 and scored in defeat.

Toronto and New York have split 16 matchups this season.