The New York Yankees are already in the postseason and have a solid chance to secure one of the two postseason byes with a solid finish. That doesn’t mean they don’t have problems or concerning situations, though.
Here, we will take a look at three issues the Yankees face as we inch closer to the postseason.
Three Problems the Yankees Face as We Approach the Playoffs:
1.) Giancarlo Stanton’s slump
Stanton is a known postseason producer, with 11 home runs and a .962 OPS in 27 games, all of them with the Yankees. However, to say he is cold at the plate would be an understatement.
He is 4-for-38 since September 3 and sat for two straight games this week before returning on Thursday to a 0-for-4 game with three strikeouts.
Stanton’s OPS for the season, once over .800, is down to .762 and his average is currently a mediocre .231. If the Yankees want to go far this year, they will need Stanton producing because that would make the lineup longer and more powerful, helping protect Aaron Judge and cleanup hitter Austin Wells.
2.) Left Field position battle
The current battle between Jasson Dominguez and Alex Verdugo for playing time doesn’t benefit the Yankees. There is a solid case to be made that the ‘Martian’ should be playing most days on the upside alone.
Then, when we consider Verdugo’s numerous failed chances to solidify his position as a starter, giving most reps to Dominguez makes even more sense.
Verdugo has had 542 at-bats with the Yankees in 2024, and he has produced a highly disappointing .650 OPS. He was one of MLB’s worst regulars for months.
Dominguez hasn’t been much better, but the sample is much smaller and he is a top prospect still adjusting to MLB pitching. He has shown flashes of brilliance, though, and deserves most of the starts.
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3.) Anthony Volpe’s offensive struggles
The Yankees are, without a doubt, at their best when shortstop Anthony Volpe is producing. Unfortunately, he has been subpar for months.
Before Friday’s games, the former Gold Glover is hitting .245 with a .659 OPS in 608 at-bats. His power output (11 home runs) has decreased in comparison to last year. He does have 26 stolen bases and his defense at shortstop remains elite, which is why he has still returned excellent value.
The Yankees need him to get going, though, because their lineup would be much better, deeper, and dangerous with him playing at a level close to where he was at the beginning of the season.
