By the time the Yankees roll into the Subway Series, their bats are running on fumes. A three-game sweep in Milwaukee followed by a one-hit, 7-0 shutout in Baltimore has New York leaning almost entirely on Aaron Judge and Ben Rice while the rest of the lineup searches for a pulse.
The skid started with that three-game sweep in Milwaukee and rolled straight into the 7-0, one-hit loss at Camden Yards, according to recaps from MASN.
Numbers Behind the Slump
Over the last six games, New York has scratched across only 14 runs. Hitters occupying the 6-through-9 spots in the order have combined for an 89 wRC+, a .668 OPS and a .224 batting average, along with a 25.3% strikeout rate, according to the New York Daily News.
Aaron Judge described the stretch as "it's a tough road trip," adding that "we gotta take our walks when we can; once we get rolling it will be special." Manager Aaron Boone, for his part, said the club "didn't play its best and needs more consistent contributors," as reported by the same outlet.
Mets Pitching Poses Test
The Mets’ pitching staff is not exactly the get-right opponent. Team leaderboards place New York among the league’s best in ERA, FIP, fWAR, strikeout rate and opponent batting average, per MLB.com. New York is expected to hand the ball to right-hander Clay Holmes in the series opener, according to CBS Sports, which only raises the stakes for the middle and bottom of the Yankees’ lineup.
What The Yankees Must Do
The Yankees have Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodón and Ryan Weathers lined up to start the three-game set, according to the team schedule on FanGraphs. That setup should let Boone lean on his pitching, but unless hitters outside the top three or four in the order start doing damage - including catcher Austin Wells, whose early production has lagged expectations per his split stats on FanGraphs - New York may struggle to string together enough offense.
It is a short series that will demand quick answers. The Yankees either find some balance beyond their headliners, or they head into the heart of the season still waiting for the rest of the lineup to catch up.
