It is not new information that the New York Yankees are the best team in the American League. They have been No. 1 or No. 2 for most of the season, depending on how the Tampa Bay Rays are performing at any given time.
What’s new: The Yankees show they are good enough to win the World Series. They were legit, as they put on a lot of pressure without the best player in the league, Aaron Judge.
The Yankees have gone 9-4 without Judge since June began. Earlier this season, Judge took a dive in the outfield and aggravated a rib injury, something he had been dealing with for a long time. Against the Guardians, Red Sox, Blue Jays and White Sox, they never trailed.
Per Baseball Reference, they scored 5.77 runs per game without him, compared to an average of 5.17 runs in the first 59 games when Judge played. It’s only been 13 games, but the lineup has achieved a collective slash line of .262/.332/.470, which includes 23 home runs, 49 walks, and 15 stolen bases in that span.
Ben Rice is an MVP candidate. Cody Bellinger is having one of his best individual seasons. Paul Goldschmidt, at 38, is as slow-moving as the 34-year-old Goldy was, when he won NL MVP with the Cardinals.
In recent years when Judge has been out, the Yankees haven’t been able to survive either. Since the 2020 season, the Yanks are 57-64 when Judge has missed a game. They had a .583 winning percentage when he played over the same span. It’s reasonable to expect the Yankees to be weaker without the best hitter of his generation, but this season’s team might still be the best in the AL even if Judge doesn’t play.
It’s only mid-June but, barring more serious injuries, the Yankees will hold their own against a weak American League. The bigger picture looks brighter. Judge hopes to return in August, and if he plays like himself, with a mix of his teammates, the Yankees will be in contention for their 28th franchise championship.
Right-hander Cam Schlittler is a leading candidate for the AL Cy Young. Gerrit Cole looks refreshed after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Left-hander Max Fried, who is currently on the IL due to a bone injury in his left elbow, is still Max Fried. Carlos Rodón has been strong in the seven games he has started since getting healthy.
New York’s starting pitching, plus a lineup with a healthy Judge, could win it all.
It’s hard to imagine the Yankees falling short earlier than the Fall Classic. Only three teams on the AL side have positive run differentials. Only five teams have winning records. The White Sox looked like they could pull off a historic upset, but the Yankees have played them down this week. The Mariners are lurking, the Guardians are annoying, and the Rays have beaten the Yankees straight, but the list of Yankees rationalizations for not making the World Series will be very short if Judge is healthy in October.
The Yankees showed that they weren’t just a token team lucky to get through a miserable AL field. They could play the Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, and anyone else out of the NL.
This is clearly their best chance to win a ring since 2009.
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