At the moment, the injury bug has robbed the Yankees of some of its edge, but comparative to other years during the Aaron Boone era, they still have a lot of key players left. Right now the biggest pieces they're missing are Giancarlo Stanton, who'll be back soon, Jazz Chisholm, who's on track to return soon, Luis Gil, who...I mean hopefully he's not a wash for another year, and J.T. Brubaker, who was inches from being that crucial fifth starter we've needed. The biggest absence so far has clearly been Gerrit Cole, who was even pretty helpful in a half-season lost to injury last year. That comeback soiled his arm, and the recovery from Tommy John surgery should keep him out til midseason 2026. Meaning the Yankees have had to go through 2025 without a solidified ace.
...and yet the way Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are pitching, you'd never know something was off.
Carlos Rodon was expected to step up in Cole's absence, because he was very good last year as Cole's #2, and he's definitely returned to his Chicago dominance as a Yankee. Rodon made all his starts last year and went 16-9. This year he's even better, going 6-3 through 11 starts with a 2.88 ERA and 80 Ks. With Nestor Cortes gone, we needed a true workhorse, and Rodon has definitely been that guy, striking people out right and left and keeping the runs inward. Despite that half-lost first year, Rodon has been one of the most consistent Yankee pitchers since his signing, and the whole fanbase has rallied behind him. I caught a start of his last week, and while the Mets did run through hm pretty quickly, he still kept them from really dominating. It's nice to have a guy like that around.
Max Fried, though, has been even better. The man is 7-0 with a 1.29 ERA, which is absolutely incredible through 11 starts. He's got 10 earned runs all season, a 0.929 WHIP, and 67 Ks [which, funnily enough, is as many as Will Warren, who arguably exerts himself more in fewer innings]. People just cannot hit Fried when he's on, and since he's healthy and dominant he's having his best season yet. The guy was tailor made for Yankee Stadium [I've known this since he silenced the Yanks last year for Atlanta], and it's been so satisfying to watch him dominate here. Warren and Schmidt have found their groove as well, and I suppose Ryan Yarbrough will do the trick til Clayton Beeter is fully rehabilitated.
Overall I've been really enjoying this Yankee team. Now Wellsy, Bellinger and Dominguez are hitting. Goldy's still hitting .345. Weaver's still a dream in the ninth and Williams has become a pretty ferocious set-up man. I am waiting patiently for Chisholm to get back so our back third isn't a complete wasteland, but Peraza is beginning to figure things out at least. If this team keeps rolling, and if Judge stays a .400-caliber hitter, that revenge mission may turn out to be a successful one.
Coming Tomorrow- In case you really thought a casino trip would be the end of his reign of dominance in Washington..
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