Concerns for contenders as regular season winds down

No team is perfect, not even the ones that are headed for October or still have a very real chance to get there. Here are the concerns, questions and issues surrounding baseball's postseason contenders:

American League

New York Yankees

The Yankees remain the World Series favorite but after CC Sabathia, there are significant questions with their starting rotation -- though things have brightened some in recent days. Andy Pettitte returned from a groin issue that kept him out two months and looks ready after six innings of one-run ball against the Orioles in his first start back last Sunday. He is seen as the biggest key for the Yankees, which isn't unusual. "If they don't have him, they're in trouble,'' one AL executive said.

Phil Hughes showed improvement in his recent starts after an up-and-down second half (he's 6-6 with a 5.27 ERA in the second half after being 11-2 with a 3.65 ERA before the break), thanks to a rediscovered changeup, while A.J. Burnett has been more down than up this year. They follow Sabathia and Pettitte in the Yankees' imperfect rotation.

The "bridge to Mariano'' is another issue for the Yankees, according to one AL scout, referring to the relievers who come before closer extraordinaire Mariano Rivera. Joba Chamberlain has had his moments lately, but last year's surprise postseason hero Damaso Marte is likely out for October. "The Yankees' question comes in middle relief,'' one AL scout said. "With Joba, I didn't see a lot of finish to his pitches early in the season. It's better lately.'' Several of their stars are also enduring nagging injuries, particularly first baseman Mark Teixeira, who's been playing with a broken toe for weeks and has an annoying thumb issue as well.

Tampa Bay Rays

Amazingly, the Rays have had one or no hits in five games this season, the most such games by any team since 1920. It's hard to believe they've had so many low-hit teams with a lineup that looks nothing but solid.

Offensively, they have had off years from several players, including Jason Bartlett (.252 batting average, down from .320 last year), Carlos Pena (.201 with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs after averaging 39 homerse and 108 RBIs the past three years) and Ben Zobrist (.246 average, down from .297 in '09). "The two guys who concern me are Pena and Zobrist," one AL scout said. "They just don't look real good right now."

Despite that, the Rays have managed to hang with the Yankees all year and are now just one-half game behind New York in the David-and-Goliath race, an indication of how good the other facets of their game are. Their pitching is generally excellent, but if there's a concern, according to one AL scout, it should be over talented right-handed starter Matt Garza, who hasn't been the same since his no-hitter back in July (he has an 8.24 ERA in September).

Minnesota Twins

The Twins, which are the only team to have already clinched a postseason berth, have done an incredible job this year considering all their injuries. And they are still dealing with sub-par health for their two biggest stars. Joe Mauer is resting his jammed knee and Justin Morneau hasn't played since July 7 because of a concussion. He hasn't been ruled out yet and is said to be continuing his workouts, but there are no guarantees with a concussion.

"It just comes down to how healthy they are," one AL scout said. "You can't count on Morneau. And [outfielder Denard] Span's right shoulder is an issue, not only with his throwing but it's affecting his swing."

The Twins have a poor playoff history against the Yankees -- they've lost all three postseason series they've played against New York, including last year's sweep in the ALDS -- and will need to have at least Mauer to have a realistic hope at winning their first World Series since 1991. That's what you'd think, anyway. But the Twins have surprised folks all year.

Texas Rangers

Cliff Lee appears to have answered questions about a balky back with two straight strong starts in which he went eight innings, allowed one run and picked up the victory, so the concern now is over outfielder Josh Hamilton, who's had an anti-inflammatory injection and epidural injection to try to relieve the pain associated with two broken ribs from running into an outfield wall Sept. 4. If the injections take, the Rangers hope he can get into games before the playoffs start. Hamilton's importance can not be overstated. He should be the MVP in the American League this year. Without Hamilton, the offense has sputtered at times, especially on the road.

The Rangers are another team with a weak postseason series history vs. the Yankees, having lost their last nine October dates against New York. However, a three-game sweep over the Yankees in Texas two weeks ago aided their confidence.