MLB

Yankees in April

Considering April’s schedule —and we know the Angels weren’t as good as expected — the Yankees’ 13-9 ledger through the first month is OK. Especially when you understand the starting rotation ranked 25th out of 30 in the big leagues with a 4.49 ERA.

After all, they had the Rays for three games, the Angels for three, the Red Sox for two, the Rangers for three and the Tigers for three.

Anybody want to bet all those teams won’t be in contention for a postseason spot in September?

The Angels can’t play worse than they did in the first month and the Red Sox needed to get out of Fenway Park to breathe.

Here’s a look back at April.

MVP: Nick Swisher

After watching Swisher hit .170 (17-for-100) with four homers and five RBIs in 28 postseason games as a Yankee, there were legitimate questions about how well Swisher could perform under the pressure of becoming a free agent following the season.

Swisher’s first month is an early indication the pressure hasn’t invaded his brain although he exited Sunday’s game with a hamstring problem.

Swisher is hitting .284 with six homers, 23 RBIs and an OPS of .972.

The Yankees are faced with a two-headed situation. They would love for Swisher to swat 35 homers and drive in 120 runs during the regular season. But do they want to bring back the popular 31-year-old outfielder on a multi-year contract? They don’t have his right-field replacement lurking in the minors.

LVP: Freddy Garcia

When Garcia took the Yankees’ one-year deal for $4 million, the club believed he could come close to duplicating last year’s dozen wins.

The 35-year-old right-hander was so bad in four starts (0-2; 12.51 ERA and 25 hits in 132⁄3 innings) that he was deleted from the rotation and dropped into long relief even though 331 of his 333 career appearances have been as a starter.

Combined with Phil Hughes, the right-handers have turned the Yankees’ rotation into a serious question mark.

Andy Pettitte might help, but asking a soon-to-be 40-year-old who sat out last year and was bothered by groin and back problems in 2010 to save the day is a lot.

LOOKING AHEAD

Seven games (four in KC; three at home) against the anemic Royals provide a chance to get fat in May, but remember the Yankees split four games in The Bronx against the awful Twins in April.

A three-game series with the Mariners (May 11-13) gives Yankees fans a chance to see Jesus Montero in The Bronx while Michael Pineda is in the early stages of working back from shoulder surgery.

A two-city, four-game trip with two games in Baltimore and two in Toronto hits in the middle of the month, and the Yankees finish May with three games in Oakland and three in Anaheim.

CHANGE OF PLANS

Considering the sad state of the rotation, Hal Steinbrenner might have to scrap his plan of having young arms help him keep the payroll under $189 million in 2014 in order to make sure this season isn’t flushed.

A year ago, the Yankees didn’t make a move at the trade deadline because they didn’t want to acquire anybody signed beyond 2011.

Ideally, the same philosophy is in place, but the rotation needs help and it’s not coming from within.

And while White Sox hurlers Gavin Floyd and Jake Peavy (they are signed through this season with club options for 2013) could be available in June if the White Sox are buried, Steinbrenner might have to give GM Brian Cashman the OK to trade for a pitcher making money in 2014.

Why?

Because Steinbrenner can’t let this year’s $207 million investment wilt on the vine.

5 KEY STATS

0

That’s the amount of games 23-year-old Michael Pineda will pitch for the Yankees this season thanks to a “significant’’ tear in the right labrum.

5-for-5

Number of save chances and saves by Mariano Rivera since flushing a save on Opening Day in St. Petersburg, Fla. In eight games since, Rivera has worked eight innings without allowing a run, has given up three hits, fanned seven and walked one.

38

Strikeouts by CC Sabathia, which led the majors until Felix Hernandez passed him last night. Sabathia never has led baseball in Ks for a full season.

1,904

Alex Rodriguez’s career RBI total, which is good enough for eighth place on the all-time list. Eddie Murray next at 1,917.

37

Number of hits Derek Jeter had in April . That’s the most hits in the first month of the season ever by Jeter.