YANKEE NOTES

The Yankees open a three-game series with the Tigers tonight at Yankee Stadium with a comfortable lead over the Red Sox in the AL East.

While the Yanks were idle last night, the Red Sox were 9-0 losers last night in Oakland to seven games out.

So what’s the biggest reason for the Yankees being on the verge of winning their ninth straight division title?

Each team has superstars, and each has lost key players for long stretches to injury.

Yet the Yankees’ kids have performed better in the second half than Boston’s youngsters.

Chien-Ming Wang is a Cy Young candidate. Robinson Cano is about to qualify for the batting race. Melky Cabrera is among the top rookie players.

Meanwhile in Boston, Jonathan Papelbon remains a stud closer but not as dominant as he was in the first half. Relievers Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen have gone backward, and Hansen was sent out last week.

“We wouldn’t be in first place without them,” Alex Rodriguez said of Wang, Cano and Cabrera. “They have been three MVP guys. Considering who Melky replaced [the injured Hideki Matsui], he has been huge for us.”

Asked where the Yanks would be without the trio, Johnny Damon used a number instead of a place in the standings but it wouldn’t be on top. “We would be seven games worse,” he said.

While many view the Yankees’ MVP race as being between Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi, you can throw Wang in the discussion due to a 15-5 ledger and a 3.81 ERA.

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Randy Johnson is expected to rejoin the Yankees today after missing the three games in Anaheim in order to attend to his home in Arizona that suffered water damage.

Cabrera could miss time due to a dental problem that forced him out of the starting lineup Sunday in Anaheim. He was looking at a root canal yesterday or today.

Matsui could be cleared to start taking live batting practice this week. Matsui graduated graduate from hitting off a tee to soft-toss this past weekend.