Entering today the Yankees are 21-17 and have lost 11 of their last 14. Let’s take a look at why the Yankees have been struggling
INJURIES:
First things first, injuries. The Yankees are no stranger to injuries as last year the Yankees had 31 different players on the IL for 39 different IL stints which just so happened to be the most in the MLB. Coming in to the 2020 season, many Yankee fans including myself thought “no way we can have THAT many injuries again…” and I certainly thought that the Yankees looked a lot more lean and fit when we opened the season. The first big blow to the Yankees happened on July 26th, when Tommy Kahnle hit the IL with a UCL injury in his pitching arm which we would later find out required Tommy John Surgery, meaning we won’t be seeing Kahnle until late 2021 at the earliest. After that it kind of went downhill, Giancarlo Statnton who was having a great start to the season went down with a hamstring problem running the bases, which was a big blow to the Yankee lineup, but perhaps the biggest blow to the Yankee lineup came when Aaron Judge who was the MVP front runner in the AL went to the IL with a calf problem as well. Judge came back for 1 game and went back on the IL after messing up that same calf. Gleyber Torres who was struggling to begin the year also went on the IL, even though he was struggling he is still a big part to our lineup. Gleyber is however expected to re-join the Yankees this weekend in Baltimore. DJ LeMahieu also had a brief IL stint with a thumb problem. That’s just the lineup, on the pitching side, James Paxton who had a brutal first two starts of the year, but was coming to life went on the IL with a left flexor strain. Zack Britton who was the Yankee closer while Aroldis Chapman was on the IL with COVID-19, went to the IL after injuring his hamstring while trying to make a play. Before the doubleheader in Baltimore, we got the news that Gio Urshela who was just starting to get things going would head to the IL with a bone spur in his right elbow, also Johnathan Loaisiga is sidelined with a non-COVID medical condition. Hopefully all these guys are FULLY healthy before the playoffs.
OFFENSE:
The offense has been a weak spot, to say the least during the Yankees recent struggles. In the last 14 days, the Yankee offense has been bad, the team has a slash line of .309/.359/.668 while amassing 11 HR with 37 RBI. Hopefully, when our big guys get back in the lineup those numbers will go up. I believe that the Yankees bats have changed their approach at the plate which has caused their bats to go silent.
GERRIT COLE:
Before you guys question me, Gerrit Cole has been good this year yes, but his last couple of starts have not been good, but I wouldn’t be worried Yankee fans, Gerrit Cole will turn it around and lead our pitching staff.
BULLPEN:
While the starting pitching has been good during these struggles, the bullpen hasn’t. Aaron Boone hasn’t really used Adam Ottavino as much which I don’t think is really good, Chad Green who has been probably our second best reliever behind Britton has had a bad few outings. Our bullpen is going to have to step it up if we are going to make a world series push, I do believe the Yankees will turn it around come playoff time and make a deep run in the playoffs.
