There are many reasons the Yankees have been in first place in the American League East since April 14, perhaps the most significant of them being right in front of them at Yankee Stadium this weekend.

That would be the Red Sox, who seemingly made all the right moves last winter to shore up their weak spots — starting pitching, a right-handed power bat, a catcher who can hit and a power-arm closer — to establish themselves as seemingly the team to beat in the division, especially after the Yankees lost Gerrit Cole, but have instead fallen flat on their faces. So bad have the Red Sox played so far that last Tuesday, after losing their 17th one-run game, their clearly frustrated manager Alex Cora sounded like he was firing himself.

Starting pitching has been the major culprit in the Red

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