The New York Yankees have successfully clinched the AL-East division along with a playoff berth in the closing week of the 2024 regular season schedule. The next stop is October where the prize money will be the ultimate World Series trophy. But to clinch that, the Yanks will need to cross three hurdles.
ALDS, ALCS, and World Series are the route for the New York Yankees to move closer to the ring that hasn’t stepped in New York City since 2009. However, despite the regular season success, the Yanks have glaring holes in the roster that could potentially hinder or even sink their championship dream.
Yankees Lack Lineup Depth
The New York Yankees boast one of the most formidable top-of-the-order lineups in baseball, with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gleyber Torres anchoring the offense. However, beyond the stars, the lineup lacks depth. Players in the bottom half of the order, such as Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Volpe, have had inconsistent seasons.
This leads to concerns about whether the team can generate offense throughout the lineup in the postseason. Notably, the Bombers’ reliance on home runs from their power hitters could backfire if Judge or Soto struggle. Hence, unless the bottom half steps up, the team cannot dream big.
Shaky Bullpen Headache Continues
Once a hallmark of New York Yankees dominance, the bullpen has shown signs of vulnerability in 2024. Key relievers such as Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle have experienced bouts of inconsistency. While Holmes was replaced as closer by Luke Weaver, the former’s role is still unclear on the roster.
In the playoffs, when every out is magnified, having a reliable bullpen is critical for closing out tight games and protecting slim leads. While the Yanks’ bullpen was once feared, with inconsistent performances from key arms, it may not hold up against the strong lineups they will face in October. The lack of a dominant, shutdown closer or middle-relief depth could expose them.
Yankees’ Pitching Depth Remains An Issue
While Gerrit Cole has been a reliable ace, the New York Yankees’ starting pitching depth could be a concern in the playoffs in the wake of Nestor Crotes’ elbow strain injury. Behind Cole, the rotation has lacked consistency. Moreover, Cortes’ unfortunate IL stint essentially means the Yanks will have to rely on an inconsistent Marcus Stroman.
Clarke Schmidt, while showing potential, remains unproven in playoff scenarios. The reliance on Cole to carry the rotation is risky, as even the best pitchers can have off days in the playoffs. If the Bronx Bombers can’t get reliable performances from their other starters, they could be forced to overtax their bullpen, compounding other problems. Hence, the starting rotation depth has to be fixed to ensure a deep postseason run.
While the New York Yankees certainly have the talent to compete for a World Series, these three weaknesses could prove fatal in the high-stakes, pressure-filled environment of October baseball. Hence, the team will need to find ways to shore up these areas or risk an early exit from the postseason.
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