KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees have spent the past week playing the two worst teams in the American League — and they have taken advantage of the favor the schedule-makers gave them.
On Saturday, they swept a split doubleheader against the Royals, winning the first game 7-3 and the nightcap 6-5 at Kauffman Stadium. The victories gave the Yankees a season-high seven-game winning streak.
So while their AL East foes tread water with the Red Sox facing the Astros and Tampa Bay playing Cleveland, the Yankees have taken command of the division on Memorial Day weekend with 11 wins in their past 12 games.