With a month of baseball within the books, the Yankees personal an 18-13 document and are main an American League East division that Aaron Boone described as “imperfect” on Wednesday.
“It still feels like anyone’s division a month in,” the supervisor stated. “I know the Orioles (12-18) are off to a really tough start, but we also know what they’re capable of as they get more and more healthy. They’re going to be there. We got a peek at Tampa (14-16). I think they can really pitch. We haven’t seen Boston (17-15) yet, but I think they’re a really well-rounded club now. Toronto (14-16) can pitch and they have some star power there. It still feels wide-open, still feels a little imperfect.”
Boone delivered that abstract earlier than the Yankees suffered a sequence loss to a last-place Baltimore membership at Camden Yards. The three-game set highlighted a number of missing areas for the Yankees, whilst they take a first-place document into one other AL East sequence in opposition to the Rays on Friday.
Beneath, we’ll take a look at some issues the Yankees might use extra of transferring ahead as they attempt to keep atop a division that has been pedestrian at greatest up to now.
BELLINGER PULLING THE BALL
Whereas Bellinger struck out in a pinch-hit look in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles, the first-year Yankee crushed his third house run of the season in Tuesday’s 15-3 win. Bellinger entered that recreation beneath the Mendoza Line with a sub-.300 OBP, however he went 2-for-4 with three RBI, a run scored and two walks. Each of his hits — the longball and a fifth-inning double — have been pulled by the left-handed swinger.
That’s an encouraging signal, as Bellinger’s 39% pull price can be his lowest in a single season. He has pulled the ball at a 44.8% clip for his profession.
Nonetheless, Boone stated Bellinger shouldn’t attempt to pull the ball — even with a swing tailored for Yankee Stadium’s quick proper area porch — as such an method can “trap” hitters and result in extra unhealthy outcomes. Yankees hitting coach James Rowson just lately stated one thing related almost about Bellinger.
“[Pulling the ball is] a result of getting into good position and being on time,” Boone stated. “That’ll happen once he gets going. You never go up there saying, ‘I gotta pull the ball.’ That gets you in a bad spot. His natural hitting will put him in that position. When he’s consistently getting into strong positions, making good swing decisions, because of his swing, I think that will be the result, and that’s what I expect from him moving forward.”
Requested if Bellinger has been entering into unhealthy positions, Boone stated, “A little bit,” however he famous that the outfielder missed a number of video games with a again challenge and meals poisoning and that it’s nonetheless “so early” within the season.
Boone added that the again challenge is behind Bellinger, although he talked about it when discussing his determination to offer the veteran a “smart” off day in opposition to a left-handed starter on Wednesday.
HELP BEHIND THEIR ACE
Max Fried has been nothing in need of sensational — particularly with Gerrit Cole out for the yr — recording a 1.19 ERA over his first six begins. Consequently, the Yankees are an ideal 6-0 when he pitches.
Nonetheless, the workforce has a shedding document when different starters pitch. Boone was requested if that 12-13 mark considerations him after a poor efficiency from Carlos Carrasco on Wednesday, however he didn’t reply the query immediately.
“We’re gonna be really good,” Boone stated. “So it’s not surprising we’re that good when our ace starts and is pitching as well as he is. We got a really good club, and we gotta keep getting better, and I’m confident we will.”
Luckily for the Yankees, the fluctuating Carlos Rodón has seemed like the very best model of himself over his final three begins, permitting simply three earned runs whereas avoiding critical injury and slicing again on the walks that beforehand killed him. On Tuesday, he remained good by means of 5 innings.
Clarke Schmidt, in the meantime, is barely three begins into his 2025 marketing campaign — he’s coming off his greatest one but — after some nagging spring coaching accidents delayed his season debut.
Carrasco has been terribly inconsistent, and he hasn’t been allowed to go deep even on his good days, as he usually falters as he nears 75 pitches. The 38-year-old has a 5.90 ERA, in addition to the third-worst Stuff+ in baseball.
Rookie right-hander Will Warren, the proprietor of a 5.63 ERA, has had the same season. The distinction is his stuff grades moderately nicely, however that doesn’t imply a lot if he’s continually nibbling and recurrently failing to supply size.
For now, there’s not a lot the Yankees can do apart from to hope Carrasco and Warren enhance. They’ve extremely restricted rotation depth within the minors, and Luis Gil isn’t anticipated again from a lat pressure till the summer season. There’s additionally Marcus Stroman, however he wouldn’t be a lot of an improve and doesn’t seem near coming back from a knee damage.
RIGHT-HANDED PRODUCTION FROM DOMíNGUEZ
Boone believes that the switch-hitting Domínguez can nonetheless be a viable possibility from the precise facet of the plate, however The Martian has struggled as a righty within the majors and minors.
Domínguez is hitting simply .086 as a right-handed hitter this season, and that quantity stays beneath .100 once you take a look at his complete huge league profession.
“I think it’s inexperience,” Boone stated. “He just hasn’t played a ton of baseball for a 22-year-old. So that really shows up on the right side where you’re obviously getting less at-bats. I think he has the makings to be good over there while acknowledging it’s been a struggle there, too, and you’re trying to kind of find it a little bit at the big league level.”
Boone talked about that Domínguez, who missed vital time resulting from accidents final season, has managed the zone nicely as a righty, as he has 10 walks over 72 plate appearances. However there’s additionally been numerous swing and miss, and his metrics have taken a success throughout the board from that facet.
“It’s one of those things you gotta keep working at and be a little patient with a young player,” Boone stated.
DEVIN WILLIAMS SCORELESS INNINGS
Williams couldn’t have made a worst first impression, beginning his Yankees profession with an 11.25 ERA, two losses and one blown save over his first 10 video games and eight innings. His air-bending changeup was not racking up whiffs prefer it as soon as had, his command was in all places, and his consolation degree in New York got here into query as followers grew more and more irritated with the two-time Nationwide League Reliever of the 12 months.
All of that compelled Boone to take away Williams from the nearer’s function “for right now” this previous Sunday. It’s unclear when Williams might return to the function — primarily being dealt with by Luke Weaver within the meantime — however the ex-Brewer has seemed higher in two outings since being stripped of his job.
Each of these appearances got here in Baltimore with the Yankees trailing by a run late in Monday and Wednesday’s video games. Whereas removed from save conditions, Williams was trusted to maintain the video games shut. He did, tallying two scoreless innings, one stroll and two strikeouts.
On Wednesday, Boone stated he preferred what he noticed from the righty regardless of a free move.
“A lot of conviction,” Boone stated. “Aggressive. Another positive outing for him. Keep building those and stacking those.”
