Despite yesterday’s disappointing extra innings loss to the Washington Nationals, the Yankees are moving in the right direction. The loss snapped a season high seven game winning streak which has been highlighted by plenty of offense supporting a reinvigorated pitching staff led by the return of Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees are still surprising many and currently hold a one and a half game lead in the AL East over the also surprising Tampa Bay Rays.

The key to any successful baseball season is solid starting pitching. Just look at the Toronto Blue Jays who have the best the offense in the AL coupled with the second worst pitching. The Yankees on the other hand are 2nd in the AL in runs scored to go with the 6th best ERA in the league. Masahiro Tanaka continues to dazzle with two first rate outings since returning from the DL and C.C. Sabathia, Adam Warren, and Nathan Eovaldi are rounding out the best the starting staff in the division. And while I have repeatedly ranted against the use of a six man rotation, the imminent return of Ivan Nova may turn that into reality. In addition to facing a stretch of twenty games in twenty days, the Yankees would be smart to ease Nova back from his Tommy John surgery as well as limit the innings of Michael Pineda who has never pitched more than 171 innings in a season.

The Yankee offense continues to hum along with Brett Gardner off to a .286 start in June. Stephen Drew can’t hit my weight (205, by the way) but has slugged 4 HRs in the last week. Even Didi Gregorius is heating up with a .304 average in his last seven games. But the two key figures (along with A-Roid whom it pains me to praise) are Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann. McCann in particular has been effective with a .333 June that has him at a more respectable .264 overall.

The injury front continues to develop into a potential quagmire. There is no word on the return of Jacoby Ellsbury, though it seems the Yankees are patient in waiting for a 100% heathy return of their star CF. Additionally, there is no word on Slade Heathcott, who was admirably filling in for Ellsbury until a quad strain sent him to the DL. And now, ace closer Andrew Miller is being sidelined with a forearm strain. Thankfully, the Yankees can move Dellin Betances to the 9th, as well as move Chasen Shreve to the 8th, but one less effective arm in the bullpen can put more strain on an already tentative pitching staff.

Overall, the Yankees are surprising and surviving. I’m not saying this team is ready for a deep playoff run anytime soon but it’s the best they have been since 2012. And for now, that’s progress and more than likely good enough to take the AL East.