(My Sportsbook) - The New York Yankees welcome back All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter this evening when they open a three-game set against the defending World Series champion Anaheim Angels at Yankee Stadium.

Jeter has been sidelined with a dislocated left shoulder since an Opening Day collision at third base with Toronto catcher Ken Huckaby. He was supposed to miss up to two months, but has made a quick recovery.

The 28-year-old Jeter recently completed a five-game rehabilitation stint with the Double-A Trenton Thunder and completed the assignment with a 2-for-2 performance on Sunday. He was 8-for-18 in his time with Trenton.

New York has not missed a beat without Jeter in the lineup and at 26-11 own the best record in baseball, while leading the league in runs scored and ranks second in home runs with 61.

Another reason the Yankees have been so impressive is their starting pitching, namely Mike Mussina, who will try and improve on his near flawless beginning tonight.

Mussina at 7-0 is off to the best start of his career and has won nine straight regular-season starts dating back to last year. He is also the first Yankee to win his first seven starts in a season since Bob Turley did so in 1958.

Mussina, who needs eight strikeouts for 2,000 in his career, is the first pitcher to start a season 7-0 since Randy Johnson in 2000 and the first hurler in the AL to accomplish the feat since Ben McDonald in 1994.

The righthander leads the American League with 63 strikeouts and has walked just eight this season. His 1.70 ERA is also tops in the league.

In his last outing on Wednesday, Mussina limited the Seattle Mariners to two runs on five hits with a season high 12 strikeouts and no walks over eight innings.

The Yankees, though, come into Tuesday's opener after wrapping up a six-game road trip by dropping two of three to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, including Sunday's 5-2 setback. Enrique Wilson homered in the loss, as New York dropped its first road series of the season.

Andy Pettitte (4-3), who has now lost three of his last four starts, was roughed up for five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, tying a career high with three homers allowed.

The Yankees are also expected to have bench coach Don Zimmer back with the team tonight. Zimmer was recently hospitalized with a stomach ailment.

Anaheim, meanwhile, comes into tonight's tilt on the heels of dropping two straight to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, including Sunday's 4-2 loss in the rubber match. Troy Glaus homered for the Angels, whose current slide comes after four consecutive wins.

Jarrod Washburn (3-4) absorbed the loss. In six innings he permitted three runs and six hits, while walking two and striking out five.

Brendan Donnelly pitched a perfect ninth and extended his Angels franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a season to 20.

The Angels will pin their hopes tonight on righthander John Lackey, who is 1-3 with a 7.38 ERA on the season. Lackey was pounded in his last start, as he allowed five runs on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings to the Cleveland Indians, but Anaheim claimed a 6-5 win.

Lackey is 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.

The Yankees took two of three earlier in the season from the Angels and won two of the three regular season meetings at Yankee Stadium last season from Anaheim.