Still two games back in the division to Toronto, the Yankees do not have much room for error across their final six games. In fact, they need Toronto to fall flat on its face to have any hope of taking the division in 2025.
Regardless of winning the division or not, the Yankees are in a solid position to make the playoffs. Winning three series in a row, and seven out of the last eight in crunch time, is never something to be upset with!
Series 1: Minnesota Twins (Away) → Won 2-1
I was very upset with the Game 1 loss, which ended in a 7-0 defeat against Minnesota. The Twins are not a good team this year, and the Yankees are trying to win a division. Every game counts! It just felt like the Yankees took their foot off the gas for this one. New York was able to bounce back and take the next two games in this series, even though it seemed like they were doing everything in their power to give away Game 2, where the Yankees were up 10-1 at one point and pulled out a 10-9 victory.
Series 2: Baltimore Orioles (Away) → Won 3-1
I loved this. Sure, a sweep is incredible, but taking three or four games in a series is always a wonderful thing! Rodon and Fried both delivered excellent performances on the mound in games 1 & 3. Ben Rice saved the day with a walk-off grand slam in game 4, which was absolutely electric to watch. New York needed to beat up Baltimore in this series, as they are down bad this year, and the Yankees have to play them again at the end of this week!
Arms to Highlight Across the Past Week:
Max Fried —> 7 IP | 13 K | 0.00 ERA | 0.57 WHIP | 1 W | 1 QS
Carlos Rodon —> 13 IP | 12 K | 2.08 ERA | 1 W | 2 QS | 0.85 WHIP
Devin Williams —> 3 IP | 8 K | 0.00 ERA | 2 HLD | 0.33 WHIP
Notable Team Cumulative Pitching Statistics Thru 9/21:
+ 5th in H (1,207)
+ 4th in SO (1,388)
- 13th in QS (58)
- 15th in ERA (3.97)
Aaron Judge should win MVP this season. If the Mariners did not have Cal Raleigh, would they be worse for it? Yes. But they still have one of the best rotations in baseball. Without Aaron Judge, the Yankees are simply a different lineup. Judge seems to make history once a week at this point.
I have said it all year long, and I am aware this is not an original take. The Yankees live and die by Aaron Judge. Most Yankee fans would agree with me on that sentiment. In my dreams, this entire lineup can get hot for the playoffs.
Bats to Highlight Across The Past Week:
Aaron Judge —> 1 HR | 3 RBI | .333 BA | 7 R | 9 BB | 1.039 OPS
Trent Grisham —> 3 HR | 8 RBI | .250 BA | 6 R | 4 BB | .970 OPS
Ben Rice —> 1 HR | 2 R | .421 BA | 1 BB | 6 RBI | 1.187 OPS
Jazz Chisholm Jr. → 3rd Yankee in History to go 30-30***
Notable Team Cumulative Hitting Statistics Thru 9/21:
- 13th in AVG (.250)
+ 1st in BB (609)
+ 1st in R (816)
+ 1st in TB (2,396)
- 28th in SO (1,408)
The Yankees will close out their season with their last six games all in New York! Two sweeps might get you the division, two series losses or even worse (getting swept) might cost you a playoff spot. It’s a tight playoff race in the American League, and the Yankees need to capitalize on inferior competition this week with series against the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles.
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