Sports Time Radio

I know most of the experts who gave up on the New York Yankees, wrote them off for this season and called them disappointing will never admit to it, but I’m sure it’s out there on tape somewhere. Well after yesterday’s doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox the Yankees have actually moved ahead of the Red Sox in the American League wild card race. Now before you go crazy and jump on the other side and start backing the Yankees they are just .001 percentage points ahead of the Red Sox in the standings and that because the Yankees have played two less game so far this season. The Red Sox could just as easily move back in front of the Yankees in the standings if they win the final game of their series tonight.

Now just how did the Yankees get back into the playoff race? After dropping a second straight game to the New York Mets the Yankees where sitting at 41-41 on July 4th and where given up on by just about everyone especially the New York media.

The Yankees then went on to win their next four series including taking two of three from the Red Sox, but then they ran into Boston again and the Red Sox took three of four in that series. After that series with the Red Sox the Yankees have won their next seven series including the one currently going on the Red Sox right now. While winning these seven series in a row the Yankees had one five game winning streak and are currently on another five game winning streak.

Obviously winning series is a way to get yourself, but that’s not all the Yankees have done. The additions of Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo have helped as well as getting some of their players back from injury. Don’t forget the Yankees are still waiting for Gleybar Torres, Gio Urshela, Corey Kluber, Aroldis Chapman, Domingo German and Rizzo to return from their various injuries or Covid-19 related absences. So it looks like there’s more help on the way for New York.

Now the question becomes can the Yankees find a way to get themselves into the playoffs as was predicted by just about everybody at the start of the season. Continuing to win series will help, but there are some other things that they’ll need to have go their way.

The biggest concern the Yankees have is if the back of their starting rotation can hold up. With Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation and Jordan Montgomery and Jameson Taillon following him the Yankees are solid through three starters, but four and five is where it could get tricky. Even though German has struggled this season he has a track record as a starting pitcher, but it’s unclear when he’ll be back. Andrew Heaney was picked up at the trade deadline, but has a 9.00 E.R.A. in the three starts he’s made for the Yankees. We’ll see how Heaney does in his start today against the Red Sox.

The Yankees have used eight other starting pitchers besides the five that are listed above this season and none of those eight where Luis Severino who is looked at as a long term top of the rotation pitcher for New York. Those eight starters have had varying degrees of success for the Yankees.

Nelson Cortes Jr. and 23 year-old Luis Gil have been the best of the eight starters the Yankees have used and I believe that Cortes Jr. will be the first pitcher to try and fill out the starting rotation as he’s made four straight starts for the Yankees.

There was some hopes that Severino would be able to return this season, but it’s starting to look like that’s not going to happen. Severino is recovering from Tommy John surgery and just had to undergo an MRI after experiencing tightness in his pitching arm. The results of his MRI have not yet been released.

Severino had made two rehab starts before being shutdown Friday when he felt tightness in his pitching arm. Severino hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2019 playoffs as he missed all of last season after having Tommy John surgery in February of 2020.

It does appear as though barring any setbacks Corey Kluber may be close to returning from his injury. Kluber has made two minor league rehab appearances covering 4 1/3rd innings. Kluber will need to make a few more rehab appearances before being brought back by the Yankees, but there’s a chance that he could return to their starting rotation just in time for the stretch run.

So what do you think of the Yankees chances to get into the playoffs? Not only do they currently hold a wild card spot, but they’re just five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East division race. Let me know where you see the Yankees ending up by the end of the regular season.

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