Yankees still like their position

The Yankees have not played well of late and it didn't just start on this homestand. With today's loss, their fourth straight, the Yankees have lost 13 of their last 19 and had their lead over the Red Sox cut to 5 ½ games.

But it would still take a near miracle for the Yankees not to make the playoffs and they're looking big picture as a result, while acknowledging they haven't played well.

“The bottom line is we need to win games, we need to play better,” Joe Girardi said. “Things could be a lot worse. We could be on the other side of this, too. But you still need to win games.”

In the last four games the Yankees have been outscored 34-16, with no starting pitcher delivering even a quality start [A.J. Burnett allowed one run in three innings Wednesday before a thunderstorm ended his night].

Ivan Nova wasn't good at all, struggling with his command while allowing allowing four runs, four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.

“He lost the strike zone,” Girardi said.

Alex Rodriguez said, "It’s simple" on why the Yankees have been losing. 

 "It starts with our starting pitching,” he said. “They set the tone for us. They always have.”

But he wasn't pointing the finger -- there was plenty of blame to go around.  

“Playing good defense, grinding out some good at-bats and some timely hitting,” A-Rod said, listing things the Yankees have done well when they've been on good streaks. “We haven’t done any of that.”

And with that, the Yankees will try to trim their magic number to one tomorrow night as it will be Dustin Moseley (4-3, 4.94) taking on Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.86)