This Week in the Bronx - Week 12
A Blog By Brett
This is a great time to get back into it, as after a 12-run victory against the Athletics yesterday, the Yankees' bats might be starting to wake up.
At this point in the season, I have three concrete thoughts on the Yankees:
They are a good team and can 100% contend for a World Series this year, even without Gerrit Cole.
They desperately need an infield bat at the deadline. Ideally, 2B/SS/3B focused.
The lineup cannot be entirely reliant on Aaron Judge’s production.
Yes, Judge might not have many stints where he isn’t hitting, but these “mini-slumps” do happen. If one were to come at the wrong time, say, the playoffs, the Yankees could be sent home early again without a title.
Series 1: Los Angeles Angels (Home)
Game 1: L 1-0 | Game 2: L 4-0 | Game 3: L 3-2 | Game 4: W 7-3
Series 2: Baltimore Orioles (Home)
Game 1: L 5-3 | Game 2: W 9-0 | Game 3: W 4-2
Series 3: Cincinnati Reds (Away)
Game 1: L 6-1 | Game 2: L 5-4 | Game 3: W 7-1
Series 4: Athletics (Home)
Game 1: W 3-0 | Game 2: L 7-0 | Game 3: W 12-5
As always, let's start with the rotation. The recent struggles of the Yankees are clearly with the bats. As a staff right now, the Yankees are a top-5 team in baseball in Hits Allowed (593), Strikeouts (762), ERA (3.46), and WHIP (1.17). That is super impressive, considering Gerrit Cole or Luis Gil have not been available so far in 2025. Cole won’t be back until 2026, but there is hope that Gil can return this season. Marcus Stroman tossed his first game since April 11th yesterday and earned a Win.
I like the bullpen, especially with Luke Weaver back from injury. Ideally, New York goes out and grabs another depth starter and/or reliever at the deadline, but that will fall to Brian Cashman to decide.
Arms to Highlight Across the Past Week:
Max Fried —> 7 IP | 7 K | 0.00 ERA | 1 W | 1 QS | 0.71 WHIP
Fernando Cruz —> 2.2 IP | 4 K | 0.00 ERA | 1 HLD | 0.00 WHIP
Carlos Rodon —> 6 IP | 5 K | 0.00 ERA | 1 QS | 0.83 WHIP
Notable Team Cumulative Pitching Statistics Thru 6/30:
+ 1st in H (593)
+ 3rd in SO (762)
+ T-10th in QS (34)
+ 5th in ERA (3.46)
If the last two weeks have proven anything, it is that the Yankees NEED another bat at the deadline if they are serious about contending for a World Series title in 2025. This lineup cannot solely rely on Aaron Judge to hit at historic levels in order to keep the lineup afloat.
I cannot stress enough the importance of the deadline for the Yankees. Aaron Judge is a generational player and needs support. Realistically, the Yankees only have a few more years of Judge’s insane production, and the time to capitalize is now. New York has solid pieces to work around Judge, but solid is not going to get the job done. With Stanton back, maybe the Yankees surge? We will know soon enough, but an infield bat that can play, cough, cough third base would be incredible to add at the deadline. Nolan Arenado and Eugenio Suarez are out there and could solve a lot of Yankee problems.
Bats to Highlight Across The Past Week:
Cody Bellinger —> 1 HR | 4 RBI | .476 BA | 3 R | 1 BB | 1.262 OPS
Jazz Chisholm Jr. —> 3 HR | 7 RBI | .240 BA | 5 R | 1 BB | .949 OPS
Jasson Dominguez —> 0 HR | 2 R | .389 BA | 2 SB | .889 OPS
Notable Team Cumulative Hitting Statistics Thru 6/30:
-11th in AVG (.253)
+ 1st in BB (331)
+ 5th in R (422)
- 5th in SO (740)
The Yankees fumbled the opportunity by not capitalizing on their favorable schedule over the past two weeks. Now they head out to Toronto to face divisional foe, the Blue Jays, and close out the week in a Subway Series with the Mets at Citi Field. Fingers crossed they were playing down to their competition, and they bounce back against better competition.
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