With a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the Yankees moved to the verge of clinching their seventh straight AL East title.

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez rallied the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the AL Central champions in the opener, a possible playoff opener preview matching Mike Mussina and Minnesota’s Johan Santana.

Jon Lieber then won his 100th career game and fifth consecutive decision in the nightcap, with the Yankees beating the Twins 5-4 behind Hideki Matsui’s second homer of the day and 30th of the season, a three-run drive in the first.

Mariano Rivera saved both games, raising his total to a career-high 53.

With their 99th win, the Yankees closed in on three straight 100-win seasons for the first time in team history, and opened a four-game lead over second-place Boston. They can clinch the division with one more win or one Red Sox loss.

Minnesota is vying with the eventual AL West winner – Anaheim, Oakland, or Texas – for home field advantage in the first round.

After the opener, manager Joe Torre made it all but official that Mussina will start Game 1 Tuesday against the Twins or the AL West winner. The way his staff is lining up, it appears Lieber will start the second game in the best-of-five series, Orlando Hernandez the third, and Javier Vazquez the fourth, if it’s needed.

“When you get to the postseason, you have to be at your best and hope that when you step out there, all your stuff is available to you,” Mussina said. “I don’t have any problems, and I think all my stuff is available to me.”

On the Yankees’ shaky starting rotation, Mussina is the closest thing to an ace they have, especially now that Hernandez’s status is uncertain because of right shoulder stiffness.

After the game, Torre was asked if Mussina was ready for the playoffs.

“He certainly has to be,” Torre said. “Especially a five-game series. There’s no room for having a bad game.”

Torre would only hint that Mussina will start the opener, saying: “I think you can guess without my help.”

The Yankees stopped Santana’s streak of successful decisions at 12. Santana, 13-0 in 15 appearances since the All-Star break, was limited to five innings by manager Ron Gardenhire.

Paul Quantrill (7-3) pitched one inning to win in relief of Mussina. In the second game, Lieber (14-8) allowed two earned runs and 10 hits in 5 2 /3 innings, and Rodriguez hit his 36th homer.