The American League East championship campaign is fiercely contested by the New York Yankees. It’s evident from their back-and-forth with the Orioles that some of the team’s players need to perform better. Despite their struggles at the plate, DJ LeMahieu and Alex Verdugo haven’t demonstrated enough to be considered for a breakthrough in the final stretch. For the Yankees to win the division, Oswaldo Cabrera, Anthony Rizzo, and Carlos Rodon need to have breakthrough seasons.
With two games remaining in the AL East, New York leads the Orioles going into Tuesday’s action. The teams will play a three-game series in late September that has the potential to determine the division winner. The Yankees need all three of these players to be playing at their best when that series starts.
Carlos Rodon needs to keep up his excellent pitching work.
The season for Carlos Rodon has been nothing short of incredible. In April, he made six starts with a 2.48 ERA, and the Yankees won four of them. With 11 starts in May and June with a 5.48 ERA, things were not as productive. After the All-Star break, he has performed extraordinary. With a batting average against of.192 and an earned run average of 2.67, the Yankees are 5-1 in his six outings.
In September, Rodon gets the chance to really step it up. Before September begins, he has one more start in August, on Wednesday against the Nationals. September’s Yankees rotation will be decided upon whether Luis Gil returns healthy. With the necessary rest and in his regular role, Rodon may have an incredible debut.
Carlos Rodon signed a six-year contract prior to the 2023 season, but he hasn’t yet lived up to it. He would become a hero in the Yankees fan base with an incredible September that leads the team to a division title.
Anthony Rizzo returns to cover the gaps in the Yankees lineup.
When Anthony Rizzo joined the Yankees in 2021, he was an incredible addition. The Yankees won a division title in 2022 thanks to his 32 home run season, and he started 2023 off well. After sustaining a concussion during a May game against the Padres, Rizzo hasn’t been the same. It’s possible that his left-handed power bat may return shortly.
Since being hurt while running the bases in June, the left-handed hitter has not been able to play. The Yankees need him to play at his pre-concussion level since his recent rehab appearances indicate that his return is imminent. Ben Rice and LeMahieu haven’t been a strong first base platoon, so Rizzo’s daily contributions will be beneficial.
The Yankees have profited from Rizzo’s excellent hitting skills when he is well. He might be the reason they win the division, so they need to make sure he’s healthy for the last stretch.
Leave a Reply