What happened: The New York Yankees finished June having lost six games in a row. The skid left them at 48-36 on the season, cooling a club that had spent much of the year among the American League's better teams.

Why it matters: Extended slumps like this one test a contender's margin, and the timing matters with the season past its midpoint. New York's offense, which has averaged 4.9 runs per game on the year, has not carried a pitching staff that entered the stretch allowing just 3.8 per game.

What to watch: The focus turns to whether the Yankees can halt the streak and steady themselves as the calendar flips to July.