The New York Yankees have struggled with significant injuries this season, something that nobody saw coming.
They have lost starting catcher Gary Sanchez multiple times, Giancarlo Stanton for a majority of the season, and starting pitcher Luis Severino until just two weeks ago. The Yankees were recently swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a two-game series at Tropicana Field.
Their offense was lackluster, scoring just one run in two contests. However, their pitching was solid, which is an excellent sign for the team moving forward.
The New York Yankees have relied on their hitters all season:
The Yankees’ offensive run production has been the catalyst behind their successful season. With a 102-57 record, they own the third-best record in the league. Only the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have higher winning percentages. But the Yankees are in a much more difficult position than both of those teams for the postseason, as their offense has run stagnant and their pitching is still unproven.
Gaining back Severino will undoubtedly provide a significant boost, but he has only pitched in two games and isn’t yet up to speed and capable of facing premium talent in the playoffs.
The lack of run production recently could be a hint at something far more dangerous than just personal injuries. Team-wide fatigue could be settling in, especially for the players that have remained healthy throughout the year and have supplemented the loss of injuries.
Players such as DJ LeMahieu, Brett Gardner, and Gleyber Torres have helped compensate for the loss of talented starters this season. Torres stated last week that his legs felt weak and when he slipped in the outfield and missed the next two games, it was a sign of fatigue for the team and what could plague them during the postseason.
The Yankees, however, clinched a playoff spot weeks ago. Now, they are just fighting for home-field advantage. There is no question that they want to win more games, but they don’t need to. That is the difference between giving their all and resting before entering elimination rounds. There are seven days from playing a meaningful game and must be cautious with their starters, ensuring they rest them as a precaution.