Once the dominant team in the American League, the New York Yankees now find themselves in a dire situation.
On June 12, the Yankees boasted an impressive 49-21 record, the best in the league, making them strong contenders for the World Series. However, that success seems a distant memory following a recent 12-3 blowout loss to the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium.
This defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss to the Mets, who have repeatedly overpowered Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole.
Cole, struggling since his return from the injured list, has seen his ERA balloon to 5.4, largely due to the Mets’ dominance.
The Yankees’ batting lineup has also faltered, with only Aaron Judge and Juan Soto delivering consistently. The Mets walked Judge four times in a recent game without consequence, and the Yankees managed just six hits in their latest defeat, including a solo home run by Soto.
Adding to their woes, Francisco Lindor of the Mets continued his strong performance against the Yankees, hitting two home runs, the second of which sealed the game. Since their peak at 49-21, the Yankees have plummeted to an 11-23 record, the second-worst in baseball during this period.
Although Giancarlo Stanton is expected to return soon and potential trades might provide reinforcements, the Yankees appear broken.
Manager Aaron Boone faces the challenge of revitalizing the team, which still holds a playoff spot but is now only 4.5 games ahead of the fourth team in the wild card standings, the Boston Red Sox, whom they will face in an upcoming three-game series at Fenway Park.
If the Yankees don’t turn things around, significant organizational changes could be on the horizon.