Breaking fresh into the month of August, the New York Yankees are setting their eyes on the prize. With just under two months remaining in the regular season, the American League pennant race is heating up. In an intense divisional battle, the Yankees have some x-factors that will be crucial in their quest for a deep October run.
The Bronx Bombers are rolling through the second half of the season and the big dogs continue to do their thing. New York is 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they’re tied with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East.
Yankees Offensive Core Starting to Dominate Again
The Yankees made some minor additions at the trade deadline. Their transactions didn’t fully fill the concerning holes in the lineup. However, they did make some improvements. The main battery pack of the offense continues to produce at a high level.
Aaron Judge has already reached the 41-home run mark with 103 RBI. Recently he’s been seeing more bases-on-balls, especially intentional ones. Juan Soto has hit out 28 homers, along with 78 RBI and a .310 batting average. While the rest of the lineup still has room for improvement, the core of the Yankees lineup continues to be successful.
Which Yankees Will Be X-Factors in the Playoff Push?
The first X-factor comes in the starting rotation, namely Luis Gil. His recent status as a starter was questioned after some struggles, but the team was reassured of his abilities in July. Gil earned the fifth starter spot this season and showed out early on.
For a few weeks, he was on a slow decline, and his role was up in the air. As of recently, Gil has bounced back and regained track as a starter. The right-hander has 11 wins and five losses this season with a 3.20 ERA.
Luis Gil bump day
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As New York moves into the hot weeks of August and the highly relevant September, they will rely on Gil for depth and consistency on the bump. The expectation now is that he can be a big-game pitcher who can offer quality innings.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: The Big Fish
One recent acquisition will be a huge addition for the Yankees moving forward. At first, most people were concerned about the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade. The ex-Miami Marlins utility player is primarily an outfielder. The Yankees have used him consistently at third base, and so far his tools and ability to play third base is noticeable.
His defense will be key as the push for the playoffs amps up. Chisholm Jr. fit into the Yankees culture from day one of being on board. His synergy with the team is clear and his skills are beneficial in such a division.
Chisholm’s first week with New York was a good showcase. He currently has 33 plate appearances with the team, recording eight RBI on nine hits, four home runs (coming in two straight multi-homer efforts), and a .300 batting average. Chisholm Jr will be an X-factor for the Yankees in the pennant race and the postseason.
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