For the first time in nearly a decade, the New York Yankees are experiencing a troubling phase, being shut out in three consecutive games. This disheartening trend continued on Tuesday night when Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kyle Hendricks led his team to a 4-0 victory over the Yankees, marking their fifth straight loss and tying a franchise record for consecutive shutout defeats. Over their last six games, the Yankees have managed to score only five runs.
Initially, it was reported that Tuesday’s disappointing loss spurred a postgame players-only meeting, but manager Aaron Boone later characterized it as “postgame chatter.” Despite the semantics, it reflects a sense of urgency among the players. Cody Bellinger mentioned the importance of returning to their roots and maintaining their approach during challenging times, noting that the pressure can amplify performance issues.
One of the critical contributors to the Yankees’ offensive struggles has been reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, who, despite leading the league in several hitting metrics, is currently in a slump. His recent performance of 3 for 24, with 15 strikeouts over the past seven games, is a stark contrast to his earlier dominance. An apparent pattern emerges as Judge tends to struggle around the same time the team’s overall offensive capability wanes. Now, his chase rate has aligned more closely with the league average, which can lead to increased strikeouts and diminished production.
Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone acknowledged this ebb and flow in Judge’s performance, expressing confidence in the slugger’s ability to rebound. Yet, the dilemma the team faces is compounded as other hitters also struggle to step up during Judge’s tough stretch. Several squad members have seen equally poor hitting, with many players underperforming and contributing to the team-wide slump.
On a brighter note, the Yankees’ pitching staff has been remarkable despite the offensive woes. Their collective ERA has been an impressive 1.48, and they have limited opponents to a .201 batting average over the last six games. This strong pitching has kept them competitive, even when struggling to score runs.
While enduring a five-game losing streak is certainly discouraging, it has not severely impacted New York’s playoff prospects. Their postseason odds have slightly decreased from 98.9% to 95.7%, while their chances of securing the AL East title have dropped from 87.9% to a still respectable 74.7%. The Yankees are maintaining a three-game lead in the loss column, which provides some optimism going forward.
Historically, the Yankees have been able to withstand such slumps, particularly when they have secured early-season wins, which can cushion against mid-season downturns. Boone emphasized the need for the team to focus on quality at-bats and trust the process, reminding fans that they remain one of the league’s strongest offenses, even amidst this recent struggle.