Yankees Breakdown: Made Up Ground

Six games, six wins. After a rather disconcerting losing streak less than two weeks ago, the Yankees immediately made up ground lost, finishing 7-3 against three American League West opponents in a ten day span. The six wins came from the rally caps, as extra-inning efforts by Stephen Drew and Garrett Jones shot down the Mariners in three nights, and the power bats from Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann ousted Anaheim in the Yankees' first sweep at home against the Halos in nearly twenty years.  New York previously experienced a scurry of mood swings, as the 2015 campaign began with a 3-6 record which later on prompted a rallying win streak in the latter weeks of April and early May. The Yankees' sporadic stretches lie within the genetic code of the ball club, and although many suggest that New York has shown vulnerability at an early stage in the year, the remaining AL East rivals have also lacked consistency. In the last 25 games, the Yankees are marked at 12-13, leading Tampa Bay by a game and a half in the divisional race. At a current record of 32-25, New York holds the third most wins in the American League, and since star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's leg injury, the Yankees have won ten of their last seventeen, refusing to let up on a division that bears no definitive favorite. 

Here's a breakdown of the last week of games. 

On The Mark

Mark Teixeira's offseason diet of gluten free foods was not discovered by accident; for a man who is a strong adherent to healthy eating and lifestyle choices, Teixeira's production on the field is largely in credit to his efforts off the field. It is also evident that Mark's ailing wrist has fully healed, as the power from his left side has returned in the batter's box. For Teixeira, the proof is in the numbers, as he holds the most RBI in the American League (45) and sits one home run shy of Nelson Cruz (18) for first place. Teixeira has continued to be a favorable strikeout victim, but his eye at the plate is one of the league's best, and his home runs deep in the count is proof alone. His offensive numbers may be due to the long ball, but Teixeira's extra-base hits have also increased, showing that he is confident in his baserunning abilities and adaptable to beating defensive shifts with opposite field power. As one of the older players in the clubhouse, Mark has earned back his All-Star stature, and with a healthy Tex playing a Gold Glove caliber first base, it will not be long until the veteran finds himself traveling to Cincinnati for the mid-Summer Classic. 

"DnA"

The clever nickname of "DnA" given to relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller has officially marketed the two as one of baseball's most threatening pitching tandems. In a combined 47.1 innings pitched, the demon duo has recorded 19 saves and 96 strikeouts while only surrendering 19 total hits and four earned runs. This dominance is hard to come by in the modern game, and whether or not both Betances and Miller are playing above their respected averages, the production from the Yankee bullpen has excelled remarkably. New York's initial offseason plan was to bring back ex-closer David Robertson from the free agency market, and despite a firm and respectable offer made to Robertson, he declined the Yankees' proposal, and signed with Chicago for his requested amount of cash. This move demonstrated New York's reluctance to overspend for overvalued commodities, and with an affordable arm in Andrew Miller on the market. the front office took a stab at the crafty southpaw, which has appeared to be nothing less than highway robbery thus far. As Robertson exited, Betances took on the role as New York's most valued asset in the bullpen, and with Betances' power and Miller's command, opponents are hitting a combined .098 at the plate with an average on-base percentage of .213. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller will never replace Mariano Rivera legacy, but New York has fortunately found affordable options without skipping a beat. 

W2W4

After three games at home this past weekend against the Angels, the Yankees continue a long awaited home stand this Tuesday with another interleague clash between the Nationals. As the week concludes with a three game set in Baltimore, New York then travels to Miami for two and returns home for eight straight at home between Miami, Detroit, and Philadelphia. With two off days this week, the Yankees will look to regain full strength, as Friday begins the longest stint of the season, with a brutal stretch of 19 games in 19 days. Tuesday night's marquee match up showcases a pair of aces, as Nationals' Max Scherzer squares off against Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka was nothing short of excellent in his return to the rotation last week against Seattle, and Washington will serve as a fitting test to determine if Tanaka's dominance is here to stay. New York also confirmed that Ivan Nova will begin his rehab assignment in High-A Charleston Monday night, and if all goes well without any major setbacks to his surgically repaired elbow, expect Nova to be back in the starting rotation within the next couple of weeks. Major League Baseball's Rule 5 Draft is also set to begin Monday night, and the Yankees find themselves in a rare and fortunate position. New York holds the 16th overall pick, the highest slot the Yankees have owned since 1993. With three picks in the first 57 slots, expect management to look for a strong set of youngsters by rank of talent, and not position. 

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