The Yankees got a much needed day of rest on Monday, as the team wrapped up a 23-game stretch over the past 22 days, during which they went 15-8.
The Memorial Day vacation comes as the Bronx Bombers find themselves solidly atop the American League standings with a 33–15 record — putting them 3 games ahead of the 2nd-place Houston Astros. They also boast a 4.5 game advantage in the AL East.
“We certainly feel good about where we’re at and what we’re doing,” team manager Aaron Boone told reporters. “Overall I feel like we’re in a pretty good spot. Hopefully, we’ll start getting some guys on the mend, too; onward and upward.”
Despite losing their last 2 contests to the Rays in Tampa Bay (which marked their first consecutive road losses on the season)
The team’s red-hot start to the young season has been largely propelled by stellar hitting, led by slugger Aaron Judge with his .309/.376/.669 stat line and league-leading 18 home runs.
No. 18 for the Judge. pic.twitter.com/W86xJ3I1M0
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 29, 2022
“We’re in first place. That’s the only thing I’m really going to look at,” said Judge. “It’s better than being in second place — that’s for sure.”
Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo have both added 11 long balls on the season. As a whole, the team is tied with the big-hitting Los Angeles Angels to lead the MLB with 67 homers.
The team has relatively few flaws at the plate, but there are some holes in the lineup as currently constructed.
Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo, who were thought to be solid batting options before the season, have both had significant problems in the batter’s box — with both players recording a sub-.200 batting average, and seeing just 7 RBIs each.
Still the offense remains among the best in baseball.
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On the flip side of the ball, Yankee starting pitchers have done enough to support their A-list offense, especially with lefty Nestor Cortes proving that his scorching season start has not been a fluke.
Cortes has performed outstandingly well, with a 1.70 ERA through 53 innings pitched.
“I mean, just in complete control,” Boone said after a recent 8-inning winning performance from the left against the White Sox.
“As long as I can go out there and compete and give my team a chance, I’m happy and comfortable,” Cortes said.
Along with the stellar play from “Nasty Nestor,” the team has relied on Jameson Tallion (2.49 ERA), Gerrit Cole (3.12 ERA), Jordan Montgomery (3.30 ERA) and Luis Severino (3.38 ERA) as their workhorse starters.
Yankees relievers have been less great this season, particularly with the recent struggles from closer Aroldis Chapman, who entered the 15-day injured list last week with Achilles tendinitis.
Prior to his injury, Chapman had given up 11 hits and 6 runs in 5.2 innings over 7 games in the month of May. Boone continued to stick with his reliever, believing he could work through his recent spate of porous performances as the team kept winning anyway, but some observers have speculated that the manager could turn more towards Clay Holmes, the 29-year-old who boasts an impressive 0.36 ERA over 24.2 innings this season.
Holmes has gotten a few chances at slagging the reliever role with Chapman’s recent health problems, but it remains to be seen whether Boone will officially make the change once everyone is back and healthy.
Regardless of the few flaws on the roster in the Bronx, the team has still proved to be a powerhouse that few other squads are excited to face.
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Once they return from the holiday off, the team will remain in the Bronx for an exciting 3-game series against the Los Angeles beginning on Tuesday night.
