Yankees News: Giancarlo Stanton's Return from Achilles Injury Targeted for Next Week
Aug 17, 2022
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 21: New York Yankees left fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) reacts after striking out in the top of the sixth inning during the MLB doubleheader Game 2 between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros on July 21, 2022 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The New York Yankees have struggled mightily in recent weeks, but the team could be receiving a boost to its lineup soon.
According to The Athletic, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday "it's possible" that slugger Giancarlo Stanton returns from his leg injury at some point next week. The team is hopeful he will be able to start a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend.
Stanton was placed on the injured list for the second time this season on July 26, retroactive to July 24, with left Achilles tendonitis. He also had a stint on IL in May with a right calf injury. The 32-year-old is slashing .228/.309/.498 with 24 homers and 61 RBI in 80 games.
The Yankees have gone 7-14 in Stanton's current absence and have struggled at the plate, scoring just nine runs in their last seven games. New York has the worst record in the majors in August at 3-11.
Amid a three-game skid, the Yankees made a slew of roster moves on Wednesday before the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. New York called up outfielder Estevan Florial, infielder Oswaldo Cabrera and reliever Ron Marinaccio, and placed All-Star closer Clay Holmes on the IL. Cabrera will be making his major-league debut. Outfielders Tim Locastro and Miguel Andujar were optioned to Triple-A.
The Yankees (72-45) have managed to remain in first place in the AL East despite their recent struggles, holding a nine-game lead over the second-place Rays entering Wednesday. Still, the team can't be comfortable with the way it has been playing as we head to the stretch run of the regular season.
New York surely hopes Stanton will be at the top of his game when he returns to the lineup. The team will need him at his best if it hopes to win its first World Series since 2009.
Yankees News: DJ LeMahieu to Undergo Imaging on Foot/Toe Injury
Aug 15, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees at bat during the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed infielder DJ LeMahieu has a foot/toe issue following the team's 3-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Boone told reporters LeMahieu is due to get imaging on the troublesome area Monday.
The 34-year-old is hitting .279 with 12 home runs in 104 games this year.
LeMahieu has mostly avoided injuries this season after a wrist issue slowed him down. The latest news could be a continuation of negative health problems for the veteran.
He ended the 2021 season on the injured list with a hip issue and later underwent surgery for a core muscle injury in October. He recovered by February, but the issues coincided with a disappointing season that featured a .268 batting average, his worst since 2014, and a .711 OPS in 150 games.
It was a steep drop from his previous two years in New York, finishing in the top five of MVP voting each season. In 2020, LeMahieu led the league with a .364 average and 1.011 OPS while adding 10 home runs in 50 games during the shortened season.
The Yankees rewarded him with a six-year, $90 million deal before the start of the 2021 campaign, but his performance at the plate has not been at the same level as it was prior to the big contract.
LeMahieu still plays an important role for New York, especially with his ability to line up at first base, second base and third base. Losing him for an extended stretch could hurt the team's chances of locking up an American League East title.
Derek Jeter: Credit to Yankees' Aaron Judge for Betting on Himself in Contract Year
Aug 15, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Derek Jeter greets Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees during the retirement ceremony of his number 2 jersey at Yankee Stadium on May 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter complimented Aaron Judge for almost certainly playing his way into a sizable paycheck this winter.
Jeter said on the "KayRod Cast" feed of Sunday's game between the Yankees and Red Sox that "you've gotta give [Judge] credit" for betting on himself with regard to his next contract:
"What Aaron [Judge] has been able to do this year ... in a free agent year when all eyes are on you ... He's betting on himself, you've gotta give him credit for that" pic.twitter.com/X6U8vYofKh
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed in April the team had tabled a seven-year, $213.5 million extension to Judge.
Judge's annual salary ($30.5 million) would've ranked 13th in MLB and only looked worse as bigger contracts are handed out over the next few years. From that perspective, his stance at the negotiating table was understandable.
At the same time, the four-time All-Star turned 30 in April, has battled injuries over the last few years and is a bit of a physical anomaly (6'7", 282 pounds). Before the year opened, it wasn't a foregone conclusion he'd command more than the Yankees were willing to offer.
Judge has proceeded to make his skeptics look foolish. Through 110 games, he's leading the majors in home runs (46), RBI (100), slugging percentage (.684) and OPS (1.086). His 7.5 WAR ranks first among position players on FanGraphs.
There's still some long-term risk in giving the imposing slugger a deal reaching seven years or more. Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols are two of the more recent examples of how Hall of Fame hitters can fall off a cliff when they hit their late 30s.
But Judge is at least in line to make more than what the Bronx Bombers were prepared to give him, so his gamble should yield a healthy return.
Aaron Judge on Yankees' Recent Struggles: 'You Never Want to Peak Too Early'
Aug 13, 2022
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches from the dugout in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge
said there's "work to do" amid a skid that's seen the club lose
nine of its past 11 games.
Judge crushed his MLB-leading 46th home run of the
season Friday night, but the Yanks still suffered their third
straight defeat in a 3-2 loss to the rival Boston Red Sox.
"You can go around this whole room, I
think every guy could speak up and say they need to pick it up a
little bit, including myself," Judge told reporters. "If we lean
on each other, start picking each other up and have each others'
backs, we're going to be in a good spot down the stretch."
The four-time All-Star stopped well
short of pressing the panic button, however, pointing to the team's
spot atop the AL East standings.
"We're in first place, that's where
we want to be," Judge said. "But you never want to peak too
early. All these games, all these situations, big moments on the roadāit's just getting us ready for games down the stretch and in the
postseason where we'll be playing games like this against tough
opponents. So we're not where we want to be, but I think that's a
good thing. We've got a lot of work to do."
The Yankees were the league's best team
prior to the All-Star break with a 64-28 record that was three
games better than any other club.
They haven't been able to maintain that
pace in the season's second half, though. They've gone 7-14 since the break,
and three of those wins came against the Kansas City Royals, who are
20 games under .500.
On Monday, New York manager Aaron Boone
said he called a team meeting to reset the focus on trying to chase
down a World Series title.
"We got together today and spoke
and talked. Just more kind of dust settling from the trade deadline,
people coming and going a little bit, wanted to get the group
together and talk to them, so I did that," Boone told reporters.
"Just [wanted] to remind them that we got everything in that
room to get through this and realize the goal to being a championāthat is where the focus lies and is."
It hasn't sparked an immediate
resurgence as the Yanks have gone 1-3 since the meeting.
In the bigger picture, the Yankees
still feature one of the most talented rosters in baseball, especially
with Judge playing on a level above pretty much everyone else. His 46
homers are 12 more than anyone else.
Several players who were key to their
first-half success, including ace Gerrit Cole, closer Clay Holmes and
infielder Gleyber Torres, have struggled since the break, and the
club has also dealt with injuries to outfielders Giancarlo Stanton
and Matt Carpenter.
New York holds a 10-game lead over the
Toronto Blue Jays in the division, so it still has a fair amount of
cushion as it awaits players returning to form and coming back from
the IL.
The question is whether the first-half
Yankees will return before the playoffs. If so, they'll be among the
top-tier championship contenders come October.
Yankees News: Matt Carpenter, Luis Severino Injury Timetables Revealed
Aug 12, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 31: Matt Carpenter #24 of the New York Yankees runs against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees are hoping to have both Luis Severino and Matt Carpenter return from their injuries before the end of the regular season.
Severino is set to throw from a bullpen mound on Monday for the first time since being placed on the injured list, and the Yankees are hoping he can make five major league starts in September, per Bryan Hoch.
Carpenter, meanwhile, had his check-up in New York City, which went well. He'll have another round of X-rays after Sept. 1 and it's possible he returns this season, per Hoch.
Severino was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Aug. 1 with a strained lat.
The 28-year-old has not pitched since exiting a July 13 win over the Cincinnati Reds early. In 16 starts this season he is 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 86 innings.
Severino said earlier this month that he wasn't happy about being moved to the 60-day IL. However, general manager Brian Cashman noted at the time that the plan was for the right-hander to make around five starts before the postseason.
Severino's return to the New York rotation will be more than welcomed, especially after the franchise traded Jordan Montgomery to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Yankees will then boast a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Frankie Montas, Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes and Severino by the time the playoffs come around.
Carpenter, meanwhile, suffered a fractured left foot after fouling a ball off it in Monday's win over the Seattle Mariners. He suffered a clean break and does not need surgery to repair the fracture.
The 36-year-old told reporters earlier this week that he would be back this season.
"Weāve checked everything and itās the best we could hope for, given the situation," Carpenter said. "Iāve got a broken bone that takes time to heal."
Carpenter was enjoying an excellent season with the Yankees before the injury, hitting .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI in 47 games.
The Yankees are first in the AL East with a 71-41 record and hold a 10-game lead over the second-place Toronto Blue Jays. They are all but certain to make the postseason and could make a deep run.
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton Remains Without Timetable for Return from Achilles Injury
Aug 12, 2022
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 21: New York Yankees left fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) reacts after striking out in the top of the sixth inning during the MLB doubleheader Game 2 between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros on July 21, 2022 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton is still working to return from an Achilles injury that has kept him out of action for nearly two months.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday the former National League MVP has a "full baseball day" of activities planned at Yankee Stadium, but he hasn't run the bases and remains without a timetable to play in games.
Boone noted Stanton may need to play rehab games before the Yankees activate him off the injured list.
Stanton was placed on the 10-day injured list June 26 with tendinitis in his Achilles. Boone told reporters at the time his star slugger requested an MRI after experiencing discomfort and the initial timeframe for his return was two to three weeks.
The Achilles issue marked the second time Stanton landed on the IL this season. He missed 10 games from May 25 to June 3 with a strained calf.
Injuries have been a problem for Stanton throughout his MLB career. The 2017 National League MVP has missed at least 23 games in each of the previous three seasons. He has only broken the 140-game barrier four times in his 13-year career.
When Stanton has been able to play, he's one of the best power hitters in the sport. The 32-year-old has hit .228/.309/.498 with 24 homers in 289 at-bats this season.
The Yankees are operating from a position of power at this point, though they have struggled lately. They have fallen behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (77-33) and Houston Astros (72-41) in the race for the best record in MLB with a 71-41 mark, but the Bronx Bombers still have a 10-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
Because of the cushion the Yankees have built for themselves in the division race, they can take things slowly with Stanton to ensure he's 100 percent healthy before bringing him back.
At this point, New York's main focus is staying as healthy as possible to make a run in the postseason.
Yankees Rumors: Jasson Dominguez Included in Trade Talks with Reds for Luis Castillo
Aug 12, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 03, 2022 in New York City. The Mariners defeated the Yankees 7-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Before he was dealt to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month, the New York Yankees reportedly made a push to acquire starting pitcher Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yanks offered one of their top prospects in outfielder Jasson Dominguez as part of a package for Castillo, but they were unwilling to include shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe and "possibly" declined to include shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza as well.
Instead, the Reds took the Mariners' package of four prospects, which included shortstop Noelvi Marte, who is ranked by MLB.com as the No. 17 overall prospect in baseball, and shortstop Edwin Arroyo, who is ranked 90th.
The trade has paid huge dividends for a Mariners team that is attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Each of Castillo's two starts for Seattle has coincidentally come against the Yankees, and the two-time All-Star is 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 15 strikeouts over 14.2 innings in those starts.
After missing out on Castillo, the Yanks directed their attention toward Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas, who sported a 3.18 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 104.2 innings for the A's this season.
Montas has made only one start for the Yanks thus far, and it was disastrous, as he allowed five hits, three walks and six earned runs in three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.
New York made several trades before the deadline, acquiring Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the A's, All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals and reliever Scott Effross from the Chicago Cubs. They also shipped struggling outfielder Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers and somewhat surprisingly traded starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery to the Cards for injured outfielder Harrison Bader.
Despite bringing in some solid pieces, the Yankees are just 22-25 over their past 47 games and 1-7 over their last eight.
Fortunately for them, they were on a historic pace earlier in the year, so they are still 71-41, which is good for a 10-game lead in the American League East and are only a half-game behind the Houston Astros for the best record in the AL.
One thing the Yankees clearly attempted to do was make some needed additions without losing their top prospects.
Volpe, Peraza and Dominguez are ranked as the Nos. 7, 35 and 36 prospects in MLB, respectively, and New York managed to keep all of them in the fold.
Parting with two of them may have gotten them Castillo and may have helped curb the losing streak they are currently on, but general manager Brian Cashman is undoubtedly hopeful he was able to toe the line between being a World Series contender this season and ensuring a bright future for the team down the line.
Derek Jeter 'The Captain': Best Fan Tweets from Episode 7 of ESPN Documentary
Aug 12, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Derek Jeter attends "The Captain" premiere during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival )
The seventh and final episode of The Captain, highlighting the career of New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter, premiered on Thursday night, putting a cap on a stellar docuseries.
The final chapter opened with Jeter's final game as a Yankee, showcasing his last career at-bat. Jeter explained that he just wanted the whole thing to end, but he wound up hitting a walk-off RBI single in an iconic close to his career.
For Jeter, it was nearly the perfect end. "You couldn't have written a better script. ... Except us winning the World Series," he said.
I was more nervous for my last game at Yankee Stadium than any other game. Ā #TheCaptain
Next up was the moment Jeter received the call to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020.
This entire documentary started from recording the potential HOF call. We wanted to film it to show our girls when they got older but ended up turning into much more. #TheCaptain
I will always have a special place in my heart for that 1990s-2000s Yankees dynasty, taking place during my lifetime. Watching you, Mo, Andy, Jorge, Coney, Moose and so many others bring happiness in the recalling.
Thank you for sharing your memories as a player. āļø
The episode then shifted to Jeter becoming a part-owner of the Miami Marlins and the first Black CEO of a team in MLB history. Unfortunately, Jeter never found the front-office success he enjoyed as a player.
very, very interested in how The Captain portrays Jeter's Marlins run
Also, Hannah Jeter experienced some medical issues around the same time they bought the Marlins. Hannah's medical issues persisted, and she overcame many scary situations.
I started #TheCaptain a Derek Jeter fan and I ended it a Hannah Jeter fan.
Iāll say it again - Hannah Jeter was incredibly open, honest, and vulnerable with @pamsson Her story is important to hear and Iām so glad she shared it with us. #TheCaptain
The episode also touched on Jeter founding the Players' Tribune in an effort to give athletes their own voice, and it also highlighted some of his philanthropic and social justice efforts.
The final installment closed with Jeter admitting he never took the time to enjoy things because he was so focused on what was next. Now, he's living in the moment and he declared, "It's been a hell of a ride, and it's not over."
Thanks to everyone for tuning in to #TheCaptain. Thank you to all involved in helping me tell my story. I hope you enjoyed it.
For fans of Jeter, The Captain was a riveting spotlight on the career of one of the most iconic baseball players of his generation. The docuseries surely left fans wanting more but at the same time was completely satisfying.
Yankees News: Matt Carpenter Out 6-8 Weeks With Foot Injury; Surgery Not Required
Aug 10, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 02: Matt Carpenter #24 of the New York Yankees in action against the ssat Yankee Stadium on August 02, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Mariners defeated the Yankees 8-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees may get Matt Carpenter back this season.
ESPN's Marly Rivera reported Wednesday that the utility man received some "good news" regarding his fractured foot. It was a clean break that will not require surgery, which means he will be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Carpenter suffered the injury during Monday's game against the Seattle Mariners when he fouled a pitch off his foot.
Even before this diagnosis, he planned on returning this season.
"I don't want to say a number because I just don't know, but I'm holding out hope that it'll be a situation where I could come back in the middle of September and can contribute towards a stretch run,'' Carpenter said, per Rivera. "So we'll see. I mean, that's my mindset is that I'll be back.''
New York recalled Miguel Andujar from the minor leagues while placing Carpenter on the injured list. Like Carpenter, Andujar is a utility man who can play in both the infield and the outfield as needed.
The fractured foot was a disappointing setback for the 36-year-old, who is in the middle of a bounce-back campaign that surely would have endedāand still couldāwith the American League Comeback Player of the Year award.
While he was a three-time All-Star for the St. Louis Cardinals in his prime, Carpenter hit .186 with four home runs during the shortened 2020 season and followed up by hitting .169 with three home runs in 2021.
He started the 2022 campaign in the minor leagues for the Texas Rangers organization but was eventually released. The Yankees signed him in May, and he has responded by slashing .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI in 47 games.
Fortunately for New York, it has a 10-game cushion over the Toronto Blue Jays and should have no trouble qualifying for the playoffs even with Carpenter sidelined.
Rating the Yankees Panic Meter amid Troubling 2nd-Half Stretch
Aug 9, 2022
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, right, argues with home plate umpire Ed Hickox after being ejected during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
In a few weeks, the New York Yankees have gone from chasing after the best teams in Major League Baseball history to merely keeping pace with the other club within city limits.
Following a three-game sweep by the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, the Yankees went into Monday's contest against the Seattle Mariners on a season-high five-game losing streak. They ended that with a 9-4 victory, but it came at a cost as comeback slugger Matt Carpenter broke his foot on this foul ball in the first inning:
"I'm holding out hope that it'll be a situation where I could come back in the middle of September and can contribute towards the stretch run," Carpenter told reporters after the game. But at the least, he indeed figures to sit for a few weeks.
In the meantime, the Yankees are 10-16 in their last 26 games even with Monday's win. Though they remain on track to clear 100 wins, they're no longer keeping historic company. In winning 61 of their first 84 games, they went where only nine other teams had gone before. Now, their 71-39 record puts them in the company of 91 other teams, including the cross-town Mets just this season.
As such, we feel compelled to ask: How much panic about the Yankees is appropriate right now?
Panic Meter on the Offense
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in action against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 02, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Mariners defeated the Yankees 8-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
More than anything, the offense has sustained the Yankees this season. Led by American League MVP front-runner Aaron Judge and his 44 home runs, they lead all of baseball with 188 home runs and 588 runs scored.
Perhaps this obscures how hit-or-miss the Bronx Bombers have been throughout 2022, and so it has gone amid the team's struggles. Since July 9, the offense has had nine games in which it's produced three or fewer runs.
Far from being all bad, though, it's been mostly good. Better than good, even:
Through July 8: .770 OPS, 1.7 HR/G, 5.2 R/G
Since July 9: .806 OPS, 1.7 HR/G, 5.7 R/G
The main driver of this effort? Judge, of course. He's continued his assault on Roger Maris' AL-record 61 home runs from 1961 with a 1.352 OPS and 14 long balls in the last 25 games.
The day-to-day strength of the supporting cast around Judge has been a matter of some concern all season, and that surely remains true even now.
With Carpenter out, the Yankees have lost their best non-Judge hitter. Giancarlo Stanton has likewise been out with Achilles tendonitis since July 23, while Anthony Rizzo has missed the club's last four games with back spasms. Otherwise, Josh Donaldson continues to be inconsistent and Gleyber Torres and newcomer Andrew Benintendi are both cold right now.
But while the loss of Carpenter is going to sting for a while, healthy versions of Rizzo and Stanton and warmer versions of Donaldson, Torres and Benintendi would go a long way toward softening the blow.
This might come off as an overly optimistic take, but, hey, Rizzo and Stanton have 51 home runs between them this season and Torres and Benintendi, at least, have been impact hitters for the bulk of the season. As it is, the latter at least has more walks (9) than strikeouts (8) even as he's hit just .176 in his first 11 games as a Yankee.
Panic Meter: Low
Panic Meter on the Starting Rotation
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Even as the offense did its thing, the Yankees starting rotation grabbed just as many headlines through the first three months of 2022. It seemed like the fivesome of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, Jameson Taillon and Jordan Montgomery couldn't miss.
Cut to now, and Severino is on the injured list with a strained lat, and Montgomery is with St. Louis by way of a deadline-day trade for injured center fielder Harrison Bader. The latter was possible only because the Yankees had acquired Frankie Montas from the Oakland Athletics the day before, but he fell flat in his debut by allowing six runs in three innings on Sunday.
In Montas' defense, it's no fun to pitch a day game in St. Louis in August. It was 94 degrees at first pitch, and the heat index for the greater St. Louis area eventually climbed over 100.
Otherwise, there's no sugarcoating the derailment of the Yankees rotation:
Through July 8: 5.6 IP/GS, 3.14 ERA
Since July 9: 5.1 IP/GS, 4.92 ERA
Starting at the top, Cole has hardly been blameless in all this. The Yankees' $324 million ace has been lit up for 22 runs (21 earned) over 38 innings for his last six starts.
Cole's fastball velocity remains in good shape, but his slider just isn't effective right now. It had an elite minus-6.2 run value through his 16 starts. In his last six, it's been his worst pitch to the tune of a plus-4.5 run value.
Fixable? It should be. Yet the same has seemed to be true of all the hiccups that Cole has experienced since he signed with the Yankees, and the pattern in his results is nonetheless one of diminishing returns. Since 2019, his ERA+ has gone from 85 percent better than average to just eight percent better.
Jameson Taillon's struggles run even deeper. After posting a 2.70 ERA in 13 starts through June 18, his ERA for his last nine outings stands at 5.89. As his 97 ERA+ for the season now basically mirrors his 99 ERA+ for 2021, this isn't so much a slump as a regression.
The one Yankees starter who's doing fine right now is Nestor Cortes, whose 2.73 ERA since the start of July generally resembles his 2.57 ERA for the season.
Yet the Yankees haven't let him throw more than 100 pitches in a game since May to keep his workload in check. As he's only three innings away from his career high for a single season as a professional, Cortes will soon be in uncharted territory.
With Montgomery now out of the picture, Severino is really the only cavalry that the Yankees can hope for. This is a "good luck with that situation." Even before Severino went on the IL, his 86 innings were 68 more than he had thrown in the majors across 2019-21. No wonder his velocity was fading.
Panic Meter: High
Panic Meter on the Bullpen
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 31: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a 3-run home run to Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Royals won 8-6. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
With their starters suddenly not lasting as long in games, the Yankees have needed their bullpen to pick up more slack over the last month.
The Yankees' bullpen has suffered from two major calamities during its recent slide, with the first being the broken elbow that ended breakout reliever Michael King's season on July 22.
The other is the downfall of All-Star closer Clay Holmes. After allowing two earned runs through his first 38 appearances, he's allowed 10 earned runs in his last nine.
It's not so simple to deduce that Holmes' slide is due to bad luck and not just because he's walked eight of the last 47 batters he's faced. Formerly a Watson-like sidekick, his sinker has gone full Moriarty as hitters have pounced on it for more frequent hard contact:
As Holmes was in the process of blowing a 3-2 lead to the Cardinals on Friday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was warming up Aroldis Chapman to potentially close things out in the ninth. It was the clearest indication yet that the veteran fireballer has regained the Yankees trust after a disastrous start to the season.
There's nonetheless a question of whether the 34-year-old Chapman deserves it. His trademark fastball has been inconsistent lately, and he's struck out only a batter per inning even as he's allowed two hits and no runs over his last six outings.
Though the Yankees did well to acquire Scott Effross and Lou Trivino at the deadline, neither is a foolproof candidate to close games if neither Holmes nor Chapman is up to it. The former lacks swing-and-miss stuff, while the latter has been prone to home runs and walks.
Walks also plagued Miguel Castro before he landed on the IL with a shoulder strain in July. Zack Britton likewise had a problem with free passes before he underwent Tommy John surgery last September, and whether he'll return this year remains in the air.
For his part, Jonathan Loaisiga could emerge as a knight in shining armor if he can rediscover the form that made him the AL's most valuable reliever in 2021. But with his fastball simply not as explosive as it was last season, it's hard to count on that.
Panic Meter: High
The Final Verdict
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 30: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates after defeating the Kansas City Royals 8-2 in a a game at Yankee Stadium on July 30, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
If anyone out there thinks that the Yankees' recent skid has been blown out of proportion and that the team will be fine, well, you're not necessarily wrong.
Even their 10-16 slump comes paired with a positive plus-23 run differential, signifying that bad luck has played a role in the mounting defeats. Furthermore, the Yankees remain in position to coast the rest of the way. FanGraphs puts their odds of making the playoffs at 100 percent, with a 95.2 percent chance of doing so by way of the AL East title. As they lead the Toronto Blue Jays by 10.5 games, the latter might be conservative.
These being the Yankees, though, the idea is not to simply make the playoffs but rather to make it to the World Series and ultimately bring home the franchise's 28th championship.
And to these ends, it was simultaneously unbelievable and totally believable that the Yankees' chances of making and winning the Fall Classic remained relatively subdued even as they mounted their early charge on the record books.
There always was an air of unsustainability to it all, and not just on an individual level. There was also how they were winning games, including an initial 18-7 record in one-run games and an uncanny knack for coming from behind:
Yankees are 24-20 in games that they've trailed at any point in the game.
Every other team is at least 10 games under .500 in that situation.
Inevitably, both of these habits have hit a wall. The Yankees have come from behind to win only three times in their last 25 contests, in which they're also 3-8 in one-run games.
This doesn't mean they're suddenly a bad team or even merely a good one. It's more than likely that they'll get back to being great between now and the end of their season on Oct. 5. What they are right now is damaged, not broken beyond repair.
Rather than a singular one, however, the lesson of the last few weeks is that these Yankees are just another great team. And thus, a beatable one.
