"Joba Chamberlain is averaging 93.6 mph on his fastball and has reached 96 multiple times this season, and the reliever believes he's got enough in reserve if he feels he needs the extra heat.

That, plus a rejuvenated slider with increased depth, are perhaps the reasons Chamberlain "is throwing the ball well for us," GM Brian Cashman said. Of course, when it comes to Chamberlain, who burst onto the scene as a rock-star setup man in 2007 and has been in and out of the rotation, nothing is simple - he's pitched well, but also had three shaky outings, so his ERA is 4.00.

All three batters he's walked have scored, including Sunday night, when he came in with one out in the seventh and walked Texas' Ian Kinsler, who scored the tying run in a game the Yanks eventually won, 6-5.

"That's the biggest disappointment, that walk," Chamberlain said.

Overall, though, Chamberlain feels like he is throwing harder at this point in the season than usual, though the website Fangraphs.com has his average fastball down about one mph from last season's overall average of 94.6.

"It can get stronger," Chamberlain said. "It was something we worked on in spring training, just letting it go and feeling comfortable with the ability to throw your fastball. It carried over into the year.""