The New York Yankees have dropped multiple games after the All-Star break, losing the first of a two-game series against the New York Mets on Tuesday night. They will take all the Mets with Domingo German on the mound against Max Scherzer, an incredibly uneven matchup.
The Yankees currently sit 11.5 games over the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East but hold just a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in all of baseball. General manager Brian Cashman must make advancements at the trade deadline to improve the roster, whether that be injecting more starting pitching talent into the mix or a blockbuster deal like Juan Soto.
Manager Aaron Boone spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon, indicating that his team is beatable but they’re good enough to be the last ones standing this year.
“We’re good, we know it. But we also know obviously we’re very beatable, and we’ve got to play our best to be the last one standing.”
“That’s what we’re working towards. We’re going to try and not let anything get in the way of that kind of focus.”
Currently, the Yankees have starting pitcher Luis Severino on the injured list and bullpen arm Miguel Castro working his way back from a shoulder injury.
Yankees’ Michael King undergoes surgery:
This past weekend, Michael King suffered a fractured right elbow, ending his season prematurely. Losing King was a significant blow; replacing him at the deadline doesn’t seem feasible. Boone stated on Wednesday that King had surgery on his elbow this week and will be reevaluated in 8–10 weeks.
The Yankees will rely heavily on Clarke Schmidt and rookie Ron Marinaccio to replace their top middle-inning relief arm. Cashman has an opportunity to inject more talent into the bullpen, with options like Anthony Bass, David Robertson, and even David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates available for trade.
While Boone is confident in his team and the quality they have on the roster, he hinted they could use the reinforcements by stating: “But we also know obviously we’re very beatable.”