The New York Yankees have been playing their best baseball in a while and now is not the time to step off the gas pedal.
The New York Yankees are hot, and they’re not cooling off anytime soon, which is perfect timing. Winners in 11 of their last 14 games, New York sits two games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays. Recently, they’re coming off a series win against their October rivals, the Houston Astros, and then another series win over the Blue Jays. Continuing to win series is crucial for New York, as they continue their gauntlet of a schedule. They will now face off against the Detroit Tigers, who are just a half game behind the Jays for best record in the AL. Winning this upcoming series with contenders puts them closer to the division crown, something that they have been chasing all year long.
Starting Pitching Begins to Heat Up
If there’s a reason to be optimistic about the Yankees’ chances of reclaiming first place, it is the starting pitching. Pitching has been nothing short of excellent. Starters such as Carlos Rodon and Max Fried have been leading the way as of late. Fried boasts a 16-5 record with a 3.02 ERA, ranking among the league’s best starters. As for Rodon, he has also put on an impressive track record as well. He has posted a 16-7 record and a 3.12 ERA, which is just enough to solidify himself as a consistent starter. Then you also got the young arms as well. SPs Will Warren, Cam Schlittler, and Luis Gil have also done a solid job stepping up big time.
Will Warren has been a standout performer for the rotation this season. As it currently stands, the 26-year-old right-hander has posted an 8-6 record with a 4.28 ERA over 141 innings pitched. However, the biggest story this season with Warren is his consistency. In 20 of his 29 starts, he has allowed three runs or fewer. Cam Schlittler, a rookie pitcher for the New York Yankees, has made a significant impact in his debut season. As of early September, he holds a 2–3 record with a 3.24 ERA over 50 innings pitched. He has struck out 56 batters and maintained a 1.34 WHIP, showcasing his ability to manage hitters effectively. Schlitter has pretty much been a difference maker, especially before his most recent start.
Last but not least, Luis Gil. Despite not getting a lot of starts this season, he has struck out 30 batters while holding a 1.53 WHIP, indicating areas for improvement in his control and efficiency.
Offensive Firepower
Aside from the starting pitching, the offense has been giving the team hope that the race to reclaim first place is not over. OF Trent Grisham, for instance, has been one of the major reasons for the team’s recent winning success. In possibly his final year in pinstripes, Grisham has been having a career year. This season, he’s slashing .243/.350/.475 with an OPS of .825, while surpassing the 30-homer mark. Aside from that, he has been clutch when the Yankees needed him to be. This season, he launched three grand slams when it mattered. But there are other key contributors that have helped the Yankees to their winning ways. OF Giancarlo Stanton is another good example of someone who has led the way for the team. Ever since coming back from the injured list, his bat has been explosive, and he has put up some elite numbers.
Then you have OF Aaron Judge. The 33-year-old superstar has been nothing short of sensational this year for the Bombers. He has displayed MVP-type numbers despite his average taking a dip. He currently leads the American League with a .321 batting average and 1.099 OPS while also ranking among the top five in home runs with 43 and sitting inside the top ten in RBIs with 97. His production has been steadying all year, highlighted by back-to-back AL Player of the Month honors in April and May, a reminder of how he can carry the team through stretches of the season. As long as Judge keeps swinging the bat like this, there shouldn’t be a reason to believe the Yankees don’t have a shot at the AL East title.
Length of Schedule
Another reason the Yankees cannot be ruled out of the AL East contention yet is due to the length of the schedule. As mentioned earlier, their schedule is pretty tough this early in September. They are scheduled to face potential teams that they might even face in the early stages of the playoffs. The teams that they have to deal with ahead of the stretch of games include the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. New York is going to be really tested to see who they really are as a team. After that, the schedule becomes favorable for the Yankees. They will then play teams that will likely sit out of the playoffs.
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