For the first time in nearly seven years, the New York Yankees have sole possession of last place in the American League East after April. In what is shaping up to be one of the best divisions in baseball, New York is 15-15.
There are many reasons the Yankees are in this position, from injuries to a lack of depth and a tough schedule. The middling start has disappointed New York fans, who rained down boos after Clay Holmes blew a 2-0 lead to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Injuries have plagued the Bronx Bombers, with star Aaron Judge (hip), Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and Carlos Rodón (back) hitting the IL. The team is also missing Luis Severino (strained lat), Tommy Kahnle (tendinitis) and Frankie Montas (shoulder)—each a pivotal piece on the pitching staff.
Despite getting center fielder Harrison Bader back from the IL on Tuesday, there’s still a gaping hole in the outfield—one of the areas suffering from a lack of depth.
Even after getting Bader back, Tuesday’s lineup against the Guardians includes DH Willie Calhoun, RF Oswaldo Cabrera and LF Aaron Hicks, none of whom have an OPS above .500. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, another regular, has a .232 on-base percentage in 21 games.
To say the Yankees’ offense is bad would be an understatement. New York is in the bottom third of the league in runs (118), tied with the underperforming White Sox and only five more than the 6-23 Oakland Athletics.
All things considered, the pitching staff has handled injuries well, maintaining a 3.68 ERA—good for the top 10 in the majors. It’s the offense that has failed to give pitchers the needed run support. Coupled with the injuries, a tough stretch in the schedule has posed more of a threat to the Yankees.
Since their last off day on April 17, the Yankees have played 14 straight games—the next break comes Thursday after a three-game series against Cleveland ends. During that stretch, they’ve gone 5-9 and only won one series.
The gauntlet of quality opponents has included the Blue Jays, Twins and Rangers, who have all won 17 or more games. In the AL East, the Rays own the best record in baseball while the Orioles, Blue Jays and Red Sox all look dangerous as well.
“Adversity’s coming for us,” manager Aaron Boone told The Athletic. “We know it, and we will get through it. But no one’s going to feel sorry for us.”
With seven games against the Rays in the next two weeks, the schedule won’t get much easier for a while. As the Yankees heal up, it remains to be seen if they can rebound in the division race.
