New York Yankees Reign Over MLB: Top 5 Threats to Their Throne

There isn't any doubt that the New York Yankees are the best team in baseball.

They have the best record in the Majors currently to go along with one of the deepest lineups in baseball.

Despite just an OK season from Alex Rodriguez, the Bronx Bombers still lead the league in runs scored and have a run differential of +138, which is tops in baseball.

With all of that being said, there are a number of quality teams that the Yankees will have to go through if they want championship No. 28. Surprisingly, the Bombers top rival—the Boston Red Sox—don't make the cut because of the unlikelihood they can hop the Tampa Bay Rays.

Let's get to it.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays check in at No. 1 and, in terms of talent, they aren't too far behind the Yankees. They sit 1.5 games back of first place in the AL East and ultimately home-field advantage in the American League. 

David Price leads the Rays rotation and is a leading candidate for the Cy Young. Having Price gives them somebody to match up opposite of CC Sabathia. Matt Garza is inconsistent but as we have all seen—with his no-hitter—has the ability to dominate a game. 

Through the first 13 meetings, the Rays lead the season series against the Yankees 7-6. The teams still have seven more games to play that will likely decide the division. 

Tampa Bay has the pitching, running game, and defense to bounce New York from the playoffs and advance to the World Series.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers were the clear winner from the trade deadline by snagging Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners.

Without Lee, the Rangers are a solid team that would still likely make the playoffs. With him, they pose a legitimate threat to take down the Yankees or anyone who gets in their way.

Having the luxury of being able to march out a left-handed ace on three days rest in the playoffs makes the Rangers the second best threat to dethrone New York.

Josh Hamilton is likely on his way to becoming the AL MVP. His .357 batting average, 24 home runs, and 78 RBI have carried the Rangers into first place in the AL West.

Vladimir Guerrero has bounced back from an injury-riddled season and he gives Texas a right-handed power hitter to complement Hamilton. As long as the Ranger offense can score runs, the pitching staff is good enough to carry this team deep into the postseason.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Albert Pujols-led St. Louis Cardinals come in at No. 3 and are the first National League team to make the list. Matt Holliday and Pujols will have to carry the offensive load if the Cardinals want to hold off the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central.

Sweeping the Reds to move into first place could give the Cardinals the momentum to take the reigns of the NL Central and run away with it.

St. Louis has three pitchers with ERA's below three including Adam Wainwright, who has an ERA of 1.99. Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, and Jaime Garcia may be the best trio in baseball right now. 

St. Louis is 38-18 at home and since the NL won the All-Star Game this year the Cardinals have a great chance of winning the World Series if they can get there.  

Philadelphia Phillies

Roy Halladay has been terrific for the Philadelphia Phillies this season and adding Roy Oswalt to the rotation gives the Phillies a legitimate chance at making the World Series for a third straight year.

As of now, Philadelphia sits 2.5 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves and a game behind the San Francisco Giants in the Wild Card.

Injuries have plagued Philly all season long and it could end up costing them a trip to the postseason. It would be disappointing to see a team as talented as they are not wind up in the playoffs. If they can get enough of their key pieces healthy down the stretch, they will have a great chance at making a deep run.

One major concern is the performance of Brad Lidge.

For a second straight season, Lidge has been bad although not nearly as bad as last season—which saw him blow 11 saves—he still doesn't give the Philly faithful the shutdown closer they would like. 

The combination of Halladay and Oswalt along with home-field advantage—if they were able to get to the World Series—makes the Phillies the fourth-best team to unseat the Yankees.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are 18-8 since the All-Star break and have done so without arguably their best player in Justin Morneau.

While the Twins have been able to be successful without their star slugger, they will need him if they want to get past a Yankee team they always struggle to beat.

They will also need Joe Mauer to stay sizzling hot if a deep postseason run is going to happen. The Twins are known for being a good regular season team that overachieves but is allergic to the second round of the playoffs. 

This team has the potential to be different with Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano leading the rotation.

Adding veteran slugger Jim Thome in the offseason has paid dividends and gives the team another bat off the bench. 

There's a solid chance Minnesota could wind up facing New York in the first round for the second straight season if they are able to win the AL Central. Beating the Yankees will be an extremely daunting task for the Twins, but they have the team to do so.

Whether or not they rise up to the challenge will be something that we will find out in the coming months.