ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- Crunch time is already here for the Yankees.

Coming off two late-inning losses to Tampa Bay marked by bullpen problems and a move that left manager Joe Torre open to second-guessing, the Yankees are in a strange position: trailing in both the AL East and wild-card races with only 43 games left.

“You don’t have any soft spots when you get down to the last five, six weeks of the season,” Torre said. “Every game is important. You just have to play every game like it’s postseason stuff.”

The Yankees, who have reached the playoffs in all nine seasons since Torre took over, were off yesterday. At 65-54, they open a three-game series at the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox tonight. New York began the day 4 1 /2 games behind Boston in the division, and 1 1/2 games in back of idle Oakland for the wild card. There are definitely challenges ahead for owner George Steinbrenner’s $200 million team.

“It’s not going to get any easier down the stretch,” Torre said. “I know George spends a lot of money and gets the greatest players available, no question. But the reason we’ve been successful is because of pitching. Mariano Rivera, no. 1. Work your way forward. It’s what makes you consistent, especially in the second half and in the postseason.”

New York has won 26 of 41 since dropping to 39-39 on July 1. But the Yankees’ inconsistent play returned this week when they dropped two of three games at last place Tampa Bay. The Devil Rays have won nine of the 14 meetings so far this year. New York is also 0-3 against Kansas City, the team with the majors’ worst record.

There were a few bright spots from the series in Tampa in the injury-filled rotation, which has see 14 different pitchers start games this season. Jaret Wright won in his return after being sidelined in late April by an injured right shoulder and Randy Johnson’s ailing back was okay after pitching Tuesday.

There are bullpen concerns, however. Tom Gordon was unavailable Wednesday night because of a cranky shoulder, while Rivera has blown two of his last three saves chances after converting 31 straight. Rivera gave up a tying home run to Eduardo Perez in the ninth inning of an eventual loss Tuesday night, and the Yankees lost Wednesday night after taking a 5-2 lead into the sixth.

Al Leiter was pulled after grinding through 5 1/3 innings and 87 pitches in the latest loss, and some Yankees fans wondered whether Torre had made the move too early.

Steinbrenner, who lives in Tampa, watched some of the game from his private box. He was cheering when Gary Sheffield hit a three-run homer to put the Yankees ahead in the fifth. An inning later, he was shaking hands with fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures as the Devil Rays began their comeback. He was gone by the eighth. Through all the ups and downs this season, Torre remains upbeat.

“I have to be,” he said.