BREAKING: Yankees’ Juan Soto confirms surprising decision after loss to Cardinals
The New York Yankees have faced a tough stretch recently, losing four out of their last five games, which has tightened the race in the American League East. They now hold just a half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the division. Although the Yankees remain in playoff contention with at least 74 wins, along with five other teams, there’s still time for the standings to shift, potentially pushing New York into a Wild Card position as the season winds down.
When asked why the Yankees haven’t been playing their best baseball lately, star outfielder Juan Soto took a moment before addressing the media. “I think it’s just part of baseball. Things are going to go up and down all the way. It’s not as easy as it looks out there. We’re definitely trying,” Soto explained.
Despite being one of the top teams in baseball, the Yankees have shown some vulnerabilities. They have a solid 45-32 record against teams with winning records, but they’ve struggled within their division, posting a 22-23 record against AL East opponents. Additionally, they’ve had difficulties against left-handed starters, with a 17-22 record in such matchups. These challenges highlight areas where the team will need to improve as they push toward the playoffs.
What’s ailing the Yankees in losses and how it’s affecting the AL Wild Card standings
The New York Yankees have faced a troubling trend during their recent losses, where opponents score in bunches once they get through the batting order for the first time. This pattern has been evident as Yankees starters struggle during the second round of at-bats. For example, the St. Louis Cardinals capitalized on this by scoring four runs in the third inning on Saturday and another four in the fourth inning on Sunday.
This has led to frustration among fans and the media, who have been calling for the Yankees to bring up outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez to see if he could make an impact, especially with the postseason approaching. However, instead of announcing Dominguez’s call-up, the Yankees’ PR department focused on different roster moves, tweeting:
“Prior to today’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: Returned INF Anthony Rizzo (#48) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 60-day injured list. Recalled RHP Ron Marinaccio (#97), RHP Scott Effross (#59), and OF Duke Ellis (#70) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Designated LHP Josh Maciejewski for assignment.”
This announcement did little to satisfy those eager to see Dominguez, leaving some to wonder how the Yankees will address their recent struggles and if they will turn to their top prospects as they make their postseason push.
"I think it's just part of baseball"
Juan Soto was asked why he thinks the Yankees haven't been playing well recently: pic.twitter.com/1LTVvak3Ta
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 1, 2024