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Yankees Need These Key Players to Step Up in Postseason Push

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The month of September seeps in next week as the race for division titles and playoff berths is quickly heating up. The New York Yankees are pressing hard with an immaculate offense and streaky dominant performance.  New York requires all their corners to be covered offensively and defensively to ensure postseason success. There are key players that need to step up next month if the Yankees are going to secure a good postseason position. 

Key Players in the Yankees Lineup Need Breakout Performances

Verdugo Needs a Resurgence

All conversations regarding the Yankees’ slowed offensive production and lack of quality at-bats seem to revert back to Alex Verdugo. Verdugo came out hot and enthusiastic to start the year, hitting at a high clip weeks and months into the season. After the All-Star weekend, things were extremely silent for the outfielder. 

His offensive production decreased, and his frustrations became apparent on the field. All hitters go through a slump, but Verdugo’s seems to maintain a hold on him. On the season so far, the outfielder has a .226 batting average and a .288 on-base percentage. In his last 15 games, he’s hitting .175 with a .269 on-base percentage and .228 slugging percentage. 

These numbers for Verdugo are scary bad, but probably aren’t long-term. He’s moved down to the eighth spot in the order and has to find a way to change that. His left-handed bat is crucial to situational baseball in the Bronx, and he’s one of the key players in the equation. 

Torres Needs Significant Contribution in Leadoff Spot

Recently, manager Aaron Boone has gone with Gleyber Torres in the lead-off slot in the order. Torres has gone from a lost cause to a ray of hope within circumstantial situations. Torres has struck out double the times he’s walked this season. 

However, his ability to get on base and put the ball in play has him sitting atop the lineup. In his last seven games, Torres has walked six times with seven hits and scored five times. He is slashing .269/.406/.346. As one of New York’s key players, Torres will also be relied on heavily to walk more and get on base. 

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The Rookie Will Need to Mature into a Postseason Beast

This may be asking a lot from the new kid on the block, but Ben Rice is also a key name who will need to pull his weight during the postseason push. Rice was called up to replace Anthony Rizzo due to injury. His left-handed bat is valuable, and once he enters the lineup every day, he will be depended on to cover the one-bag spot. In the last seven games, he’s hitting an atrocious .063 in 16 at-bats.

These three Yankees are under the microscope as September approaches. They will each be pinpoint topics of discussion with regard to depth charts and the look of the postseason roster.

 

Photo Credit: © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

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