A look at how injuries are already having an impact in the AL East

The Yankees hosted the Red Sox last night on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball," but before the game the news came out that two of the marquee players would not even play in the game.

The Yankees were holding out shortstop Derek Jeter due to a tight quad. The Red Sox were sending second baseman Dustin Pedroia back to Boston to check on his injured left wrist. It's bothered him since April 4 and he is 6-for-40 since that time.

Jeter and Pedroia, two of the biggest names in the American League East, not on the field.

AL East teams have been hit hard by injuries already this year and you have to wonder how attrition - who gets hurt and who stays healthy - will impact the division race in 2014.

New York is already without closer David Robertson, on the DL with a groin strain, and first baseman Mark Teixeira, out with a hamstring injury, although he could be back soon. Former Oriole Brian Roberts also didn't play last night due to a lower back injury. He had an MRI, which was negative, and he will be re-evaluated.

The Red Sox also got a scare when closer Koji Uehara missed a few games with a sore shoulder. But he had a throwing sessionSunday that went well.

Since he took over as Boston's closer last June 21, Uehara is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.27 and 29 saves in 31 chances. Over 33 2/3 innings, he has walked one and fanned 47. Not a misprint, he's been that good.

Tampa Bay is now playing without three of the five pitchers projected to be their starters this year, with Alex Cobb, Matt Moore and Jeremy Hellickson all out. Moore could have a series elbow injury, Cobb could miss at least four weeks with an oblique strain and Hellickson will be out until June with an elbow issue.

The Orioles have had their own issues, playing several games without their starters on the left side of the infield. The club still can't pinpoint a timetable for Manny Machado's return.

After Sunday's game, Chris Davis was asked how much it hurts the O's to not have Manny in the lineup?

"You can't sit here and worry about when he's going to come back," Davis said. "We trust that Manny is doing everything he can to get back. You know we have guys in here that can pick him up. Injuries are part of the game and you have to use what you have to go out and try to hand it to them."

The Orioles offense has been inconsistent so far, to say the least. In the season's first seven games the Orioles hit just .231 and scored only 19 runs. They then scored 19 runs with 32 hits in the last two games of the series at New York. But, over the weekend, they scored just five runs in three games versus Toronto.

Will the real O's offense please stand up? Meanwhile, how are injuries impacting the AL East race?