The New York Yankees are currently staring down the barrel of an early playoff exit if they continue to perform as they did in August.
After the All-Star break, the Bombers have struggled considerably on offense. Winning just 17 games and losing 26 over a 43-game sample size. In the month of August, they lost 18 games compared to 10 wins, hosting a team .221 batting average.
For comparison sake, they hit .263 in the month of July with a 35.6% on-base rate. The very moment DH Matt Carpenter went down with a fractured foot, the offense headed to the injured list with him.
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Yankees president Randy Levine is just as perplexed as the fans regarding the state of the team and how they performed in August.
“Is it perplexing? Yes it’s perplexing. But I’ve been through it before. I mean, some of our great teams … the 2000 team had a horrible August. So this happens. I have confidence in the guys and I think we’ll pull it out. I really do. I’m hopeful, but doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated, doesn’t mean I don’t get upset or emotional, I do.”
Via “The Show” hosted by Joel Sherman of the New York Post
The Yankees have time to turn things around:
Despite the obvious concern, Levine is still confident the team will come together and break out of their current funk. Injuries have plagued the roster over the past few weeks, but they’re expected to gain back several impact players in mid-September. Starting pitchers Luis Severino and Nestor Cortes have started ramping up, and trade deadline acquisition Harrison Bader will start rehab assignments in the coming days.
With three more games against the Minnesota Twins this week before hosting the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series, the Bombers must collect a few more wins and get their offense going.
They currently host a five-game lead in the AL East, not enough to stifle Tampa Bay if they come to New York and sweep the Yankees in the Bronx. The Toronto Blue Jays are only 5.5 games back, winning five consecutive and currently going through an easier part of their schedule. With primary players dealing with minor ailments and suffering the consequences in the batter’s box, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a heavy reliance on the youngster during Wednesday’s doubleheader.
It is now or never for the Yankees to showcase their firepower and extend their slim lead that once sat at 15.5 games a few months ago.