A look around the AL East: How are the top Blue Jays competition faring as of late?

Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays | Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages
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New York Yankees, 43-35

At 43-35, the New York Yankees sit third in the AL East, 9.5 games back of the Rays. They're definitely not having the season they, or anyone else, envisioned, especially after they won the division by seven games last year.

The Bronx Bombers are 9-11 in June, with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games and are barely hanging on to the second Wild Card, just a half-game ahead of the Blue Jays. While they have won their two most recent series, taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners and the powerhouse Texas Rangers, they have struggled mightily against Boston this month. The Yankees dropped five out of six games against the Red Sox in June, including a sweep in their last meeting.

In a season beset by injuries, the Yankees have seen their vaunted offense from a year ago reduced to a mere shadow of itself. With Aaron Judge on the IL for most of June with a torn ligament in his toe and no timetable for his return, things look bleak in New York.

They have the fewest hits (124) and runs scored (66) since the beginning of June. They also sit dead last in batting average (.195), OPS (.622), wOBA (.270) and wRC+ (69).

Despite a pitching staff that seems to have taken more trips to the infirmary than the mound, they have held their own with a 3.68 ERA this month, ninth-best in the majors. Their pitchers have held opponents to a .246 batting average and a .316 wOBA this month, both around league-average marks.

The Yankees finish their month on the road this week with three winnable games in Oakland against the Athletics. Their pitching will have to carry the load, as the offense, now relying on the likes of one-time Blue Jay Billy McKinney, doesn't seem up to the task after a miserable month.

Next: Are the Boston Red Sox good, or not?