New York Yankees Take Over Best Record in AL with Win Over Rangers

The New York Yankees are the hottest team in baseball right now. They are coming off a dominating 12-3 win over the AL West leading Texas Rangers, and have won 15 of their last 19 games. The Yankees also take over the best record in the AL from the Rangers with 31 wins and 21 losses.

The offense has been clicking, with Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, and Melky Cabrera all batting over .300. Damon and Nick Swisher have ten homeruns each and have been two of the best players this season.

Ever since Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankee lineup, the Yankees have been looking unstoppable. It has also helped Mark Teixera get out of his slump and is now batting almost .300 after a horrible start. Teixera is seeing more hittable pitches, now that he is batting behind A-Rod. Teixera is the team leader in homeruns (16) and RBI's (44). The Yankees have arguably the best 3-4 hitters in all of baseball with Teixera and A-Rod.

Pitching has been a concern for the Yankees in recent years and they made a bid in the offseason to change that. CC Sabathia has been the best pitcher for the Yankees so far this season. CC signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees earlier this year and instantly became the Yankees ace. Sabathia leads the teams in wins (5), innings pitched (76), and ERA (3.46). Sabathia is 4-0 in his last five starts, giving up a total of nine runs in 39 innings. He has pitched 7+ innings in each of those five starts. A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract of his own, is their #2 starter and has been shaky at times but has won two straight starts. Yankee veteran Andy Pettite is the #3 starter, with a record of 5-1, and has won three of his last four starts. Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain round out the starting rotation.

The Yankees are currently leading the Red Sox by one game in the AL East, even though they are losing the season series to the Red Sox six to zero. The Toronto Blue Jays have led the division since the beginning of the season but have recently been on a long losing streak, falling back to third place, two games behind the first place Yankees.

The New York Yankees have also recently set a major-league record 18 straight games without committing an error but that streak ended against the Rangers, after a throwing error from catcher Jorge Posada in the fourth inning.

New York has not been to the playoffs since 2007, missing it last year for the first time in thirteen years. Manager Joe Girardi is on the hot seat and could be entering his last year as manager if the team does not improve. The Yankees have also not won their division in two years, but have a better chance this year than in previous years.