State of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry: Who has the edge in AL East?

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

The rebuilding Bronx Bombers weren't expected to battle the BoSox for AL East supremacy -- at least not quite yet.

But the New York Yankees enter their three-game set against the Boston Red Sox with a two-game lead in the division. So now that 2017 is surging toward the summer months, where do the two rivals stand?

Yankees beat writer Andrew Marchand and Red Sox beat writer Scott Lauber size up the clubs, unit by unit, and Judge David Schoenfield dons his robes once again to render a verdict. Then, it's your turn to vote.

Infield

Marchand: The Yankees' infield has been a mixed bag. It's been very good up the middle -- and not very good at the corners. Starlin Castro is rightfully leading the AL All-Star voting at second base, while Didi Gregorius -- with an assist from Ronald Torreyes, while Gregorius was hurt to begin the season -- has picked up where he left off last year. At first base, Greg Bird struggled mightily and was hurt, while Chris Carter has hit like he did last year for the Brewers -- well, minus the 41-home run power. Third baseman Chase Headley began strong but had an awful May.

Lauber: When Deven Marrero has 70 at-bats by June, you know that injuries hit like a Mike Tyson haymaker. The list: Brock Holt (vertigo), Marco Hernandez (shoulder), Pablo Sandoval (knee), Dustin Pedroia (knee, wrist). Sore-shouldered DH Hanley Ramirez hasn't played first base, necessitating more of doubles machine Mitch Moreland and prospect Sam Travis' call-up. At shortstop, Xander Bogaerts is hitting for average, not for power. But third base is a mess, with Sandoval lapsing into a timeshare with Marrero and Josh Rutledge.

Judge Schoenfield: Interesting. Both teams have a disaster spot here, as the Yankees have MLB's worst wOBA at first base and the Red Sox have MLB's worst at third base. But Marchand's comment that Castro deserves to lead the All-Star voting ... over Jose Altuve or Robinson Cano ... umm, no.

Verdict: