There are roughly 30 games left in the MLB season and there are still playoff spots up for grabs, including in the AL East, where the New York Yankees are just two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Let’s take a look at the playoff picture and the star returns that could change it in this week’s MLB Roundtable with Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar:
The last time the Red Sox faced the Yankees, Boston swept New York but were still 10 games under .500. Now, Boston is 73-60 and just behind New York for the top wild-card. What are the chances the Red Sox actually overtake the Yankees in the standings?
Kavner:Â I wont be stunned if it happens. Since losing Aaron Judge at the end of May, the Yankees offense ranks last in MLB in batting average and on-base percentage. Its still unclear when, exactly, hell return and what hell look like when he does. The return of Cody Bellinger and the deadline addition of Luis Garcia Jr. have provided a boost to the lineup, but the Yankees didnt do anything to address their bullpen. That might prove costly, especially with Fernando Cruz now down. And who knows how Max Frieds recurring elbow issue will impact him the rest of the way?
Meanwhile, we just saw the Red Sox have a 21-4 month of July and have gotten the wheels back on track after a rough start to August. Strength of schedule matters a lot at this time of year, and the Yankees have the easier road ahead. But if the Red Sox can take the series this weekend in the Bronx, itll basically be a toss-up the rest of the way.Â
Thosar: The gap is so small, and the Yankees bullpen looks so vulnerable, that its entirely possible the standings could flip by the end of the weekend. Plus, rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. has the yips. Hes committed six errors in his past six straight games. But, right now, general manager Brian Cashmans gamble of declining to add a relief arm at the trade deadline is hurting the club. Set-up man Fernando Cruz is dealing with a partial tear of his UCL, and two starters in Max Fried and Ryan Weathers are on the IL.
Due to their lack of pitching depth, journeyman Justin Topa is being forced to pitch in high-leverage situations. The Red Sox always have extra fire when they come to the Bronx. If they manage to overtake the Bombers in the four-game set this weekend, which includes a doubleheader on Saturday, its actually easy to see them hanging onto that lead through the rest of the season.Â
The Yankees arent whole, but mid-season adds like George Lombard Jr., Luis GarcÃa Jr. and Gerrit Cole have helped paper over that. Does New York still have enough for a deep postseason run if Giancarlo Stanton doesnt return, or Aaron Judge isnt quite himself when hes back?
Kavner: Yes, only because the American League is that bad. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice have finally shown some signs of life over the last week, which needs to continue. And if Max Frieds elbow can hold up over the next two months, a rotation featuring Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Fried and Carlos Rodón might still be good enough to make up for the inconsistent offense and lack of depth behind the top bullpen arms. I cant see them contending with the top team in the National League if Judge isnt himself, though.
Thosar:Â The Yankees offense is so inconsistent without Judge that its hard to imagine they go far if the captain isnt right or at all limited due to his rib fracture. That being said, theyve looked more complete with the return of Cody Bellinger, whose thump in the lineup was sorely missed. Garcia Jr. looks more comfortable in pinstripes every time he steps into the box. And the rest of the American League is so weak that a Stanton-less playoff offense should be able to hang in there as long as the rotation is as sharp and healthy as the Yankees expect it to be.
Jacob Misiorowski has been the Brewers MVP,
