You can't fault Alfonso Soriano and Vladimir Guerrero if they swing for the fences today.

The 40-40 club

Players with 40 home runs and 40 steals in one season: Alex Rodriguez, Mariners, 1998: 42 HRs, 46 SBs Barry Bonds, Giants, 1996: 42 HRs, 40 SBs Jose Canseco, A's, 1988: 42 HRs, 40 SBs Others who came close: Barry Bonds, Giants, 1997: 40 HRs, 37 SBs Howard Johnson, Mets, 1989: 36 HRs, 41 SBs Eric Davis, Reds, 1987: 37 HRs, 50 SBs Bobby Bonds, Angels, 1977: 37 HRs, 41 SBs Bobby Bonds, Giants, 1973: 39 HRs, 43 SBs Willie Mays, Giants, 1956: 36 HRs, 40 SBs Ken Williams, Browns, 1922: 39 HRs, 37 SBs

Soriano, the Yankees' second baseman and leadoff hitter, and Expos right fielder Guerrero are both one home run shy of joining baseball's elite 40-40 crew. The Yankees are in Baltimore to finish their series against the Orioles, while the Expos close out their regular season at home against the Cincinnati Reds.

Only three players have hit 40 homers and stolen 40 bases in a season: Alex Rodriguez (1998), Barry Bonds (1996) and Jose Canseco (1988). Soriano has 41 steals, Guerrero 40. Also at stake for Soriano is Bobby Richardson's 1962 club record of 692 at-bats. Soriano needs two official at-bats to surprass Richardson.

Soriano's pursuit of 40-40, however, is a mere shadow in the team's big picture. The Yankees are vying for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs, leading the Athletics by a half-game. Since the Yankees (102-58) have the edge in the tiebreaker with Oakland (102-59), New York needs one more victory or an A's loss to clinch it -- and avoid a Monday makeup game against Tampa Bay.

"It's up to us," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Guerrero was a hair short of hitting his 40th homer in Saturday's win over the Reds. His drive to right field landed directly on top of the wall before bounding back onto the field for a single.

Guerrero, whose Expos have clinched second place in the NL East, pumped his fist in the air as he rounded first, then suddenly threw up both arms in despair and shouted, "No!" when first-base umpire Gary Cederstrom waved both arms in front of him to indicate the ball was still in play.

"When I hit it, I thought it was gone," Guerrero told The Associated Press. "At first I thought it was out, but then the guys saw it on video and then I saw it for myself after, and it was the right call. The ball didn't go out."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.