The Yankees have done a good job righting themselves against some weak National League teams and will need to continue doing that this week.
They start a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday before returning to New York for a four-game Subway Series against the Mets.
After going 8-2 in their first 10 interleague games during this stretch, the club should be capable of producing a similar percentage against the weakened Pirates as well as their city rivals.
On Tuesday, the Bucs send perhaps their most disappointing pitcher to the mound in Tom Gorzelanny (5-6, 6.59 ERA). A 14-game winner last season, Gorzelanny's ERA has increased by nearly three runs in 2008.
Gorzelanny gave up four runs - three homers - in six innings Wednesday in an 8-2 loss to the White Sox.
Gorzelanny didn't get a decision in his start at Yankee Stadium last year, going 6 1-3 innings and allowing four runs in a 5-4, 10-inning loss.
Darrell Rasner (4-4, 3.64) will look to keep the Yanks recent strong pitching trend going. He ended a streak of four straight losses in his last outing, though it wasn't one of his best efforts.
The right-hander allowed two runs and three hits with five walks over five innings of an 8-5 win over San Diego on Wednesday.
The Yankees swept the Pirates in 2005 and 2007 at Yankee Stadium, outscoring them 49-19 over six games.
This could be an important string for the Yankees to show they can keep beating teams they should beat -- a key factor for any team seeking to thrust itself into playoff contention.
The tests will, of course, only get harder from there.
--SS Derek Jeter and 3B Alex Rodriguez continue to lead their respective positions in All-Star balloting. Both players have expressed enthusiasm for playing in this year's All-Star Game, which will be held at Yankee Stadium as part of the ballpark's farewell tour.
--C Jorge Posada has been a big part of the Yankees' resurgence since his return from an injured right shoulder. Manager Joe Girardi has been careful to rest his catcher when possible, but in the 14 games Posada's played since his return, he's hit .311 with two homers and eight RBIs.
--LHP Andy Pettitte has been pitching like an ace again for the Yankees and that's a good thing for general manager Brian Cashman. Cashman held off Hank Steinbrenner's quest for Johan Santana in the offseason and justified the lack of a deal by saying Pettitte's return would help make up for the loss in production. That hasn't always been the case, but Pettitte's allowed just one earned run in his last 21 innings.
--RHP Darrell Rasner has given up 48 hits in 47 innings pitched this season, but has made up for that number thanks to a nearly 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Rasner, who pitches Tuesday, quickly gained praise from teammates for working quickly and has allowed only 11 free passes while striking out 31.
--1B Jason Giambi has rebounded from an 0-for-11 string by picking up five hits in his last six at-bats. Giambi's 17 homers lead the Yankees and his 42 RBIs place him second behind Bobby Abreu, who has 44.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Number of earned runs Andy Pettitte had allowed in his last 21 innings through the weekend.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's time the National League joins the 21st century or is forced to join. The National League is playing the same way it did in the 1880s. That's over with. The National League should have the designated hitter." -- Yankees co-chairperson Hank Steinbrenner, to the New York Post following Chien-Ming Wang's injury running the bases in an interleague game.