(MLB.com)

KANSAS CITY -- Go ahead, you try to explain to Nick Swisher that he shouldn't be in the Yankees' everyday lineup. It's becoming a difficult case to make.

Still without a starting position, Swisher starred again in his roving role for the Yankees on Saturday, jumping from the outfield to first base and going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, three runs scored and two walks.

The red-hot Swisher's debut with the Yankees has been downright dreamy, beginning with five RBIs in his first start. Through five games, Swisher is hitting .538 (7-for-13) with two homers and nine RBIs. His OPS is registering at an eye-popping 2.010.

"I'm absolutely loving it," Swisher said. "It's like I almost don't want to wake up. I don't want to soak it in right now. I want to keep that fire, keep that passion and keep that attitude going right now.

"When I come to the ballpark, I feel confident. I know in this game, you're going to go through ups and downs, but right now, things seem to be going pretty well."

His status made for a postgame conversation in the coaches' room, where manager Joe Girardi told his audience to sleep on the idea of keeping Swisher in the lineup for the series finale on Sunday. But there is no doubt that Swisher's contributions in his three starts have been much appreciated.

"He's playing well, he really is," Girardi said. "He's swinging the bat well, played a nice first base [Saturday] and had some tough throws that he had to dig out. Left-handed or right-handed, he's always a tough at-bat."

Swisher was looking for a fresh start after hitting .218 for the White Sox last year, and he may have found it in New York, where his high-energy optimism has been a welcome addition to what had been perceived by outsiders to be a stuffy and corporate clubhouse.

"In this game, you're going to have ups and downs," Swisher said. "Last year, I got knocked down pretty good. I decided to get back up, and I think it's been great. It's been such a fun year, and I think some of the success we've been having as of late is because we're having so much fun. It feels like we're going out there and playing the game of baseball that we all love."

Swisher boasts versatility in playing all three outfield positions, though the Yankees don't particularly see him playing center field. He was heavily considered for the right-field job in Spring Training before Girardi announced that he would be going with Xavier Nady.

"I just think everyone tried to stir it up and make such a big controversy about it," Swisher said. "That's not really our style. X and I are great buddies; we hang out all the time. ... I think that we all know the ability of each other, and we all know that we're probably going to have to give up at-bats for the other guys."

Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-3, 2.60 ERA in 2008)
The 23-year-old fireballer makes his first start of the season against the Royals, during which he may face fellow University of Nebraska alumnus Alex Gordon, who left Saturday's game with right hip tightness. Chamberlain was 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA as a starter last season and the Yankees went 8-4 in his starts. Among American League rookies, he ranked first in ERA, second in strikeouts (118), fourth in opponents' average (.233) and seventh in innings pitched (100 1/3). He had no record and a 3.18 ERA in two games vs. Kansas City, including a June 8 start, when he went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned).

KC: RHP Gil Meche (0-0, 1.29 ERA)
Meche pitched very well on Opening Day, holding the White Sox to just one run on seven hits in seven innings. He went unrewarded when the bullpen blew his 2-1 lead. Meche has become used to disappointments, though. In his previous two years with KC, his cumulative ERA was a mere 3.82, but his won-lost record was a modest 23-24. If his first outing is any indication, he's primed for another good season.

Tidbits
Jorge Posada doubled in his first two plate appearances, collecting five RBIs in this series so far. He has 320 career doubles, one shy of Yogi Berra for 11th place on the Yankees' all-time list. Posada is a lifetime .322 hitter vs. Kansas City with 14 homers and 65 RBIs. ... Robinson Cano's 15-game hitting streak dating back to last season snapped on Saturday. ... Cody Ransom's fifth-inning error Saturday was the Yankees' first this season. They were the only remaining team in the Majors without a miscue. ... After recording four strikeouts in their first two games, Yankees starters have registered 18 over their past three games.

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Up next
• Monday: Yankees (Chien-Ming Wang, 0-1, 17.18) at Rays (Scott Kazmir, 1-0, 1.50), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Yankees (A.J. Burnett, 1-0, 3.38) at Rays (Matt Garza, 1-0, 1.29), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 1-0, 1.29) at Rays (Andy Sonnanstine, 0-1, 9.64), 4:08 p.m. ET