​WASHINGTON — Credit the Yankees for navigating one of the most chaotic 3 1/2 months in recent memory. I can’t decide whether this club is truly a powerhouse or merely an impostor who’ll break our hearts in October (again). We’ll know soon enough, but the ride has been dizzying. The All-Star break is here, and I’ve got vertigo. Even Cam Schlittler’s brush with the All-Star Game assignment turned into a tangled mess. In three days, Schlittler swung from being an obvious American League starter to opting out, to being told by MLB that if he shows up in Philadelphia on Tuesday, he’d better be ready to take the ball. That’s a lot of stress for a meaningless game. I’m starting to prefer the Home Run Derby.
What I take more seriously is the upcoming showdown with the Dodgers. That series will go a long way toward putting the Yankees’ current four-game winning streak in perspective. Three of those victories were gift-wrapped by the Nationals’ bullpen—the worst in the majors with 27 blown saves. They single-handedly resurrected Jazz Chisholm, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and even Ryan McMahon.
Sunday’s 5-3 win over Washington marked the third comeback in three days. The Yankees’ positive vibes might be bluster given the caliber of their opposition, but they sit three games behind the Rays, prompting manager Aaron Boone to say, “We’ve given ourselves a chance.” He’s right—there’s much to like right now. Here are some positives worth noting:
The Yankees miss Aaron Judge, but Anthony Rice is doing his best to clone the captain’s swing. It’s not just the 29 home runs that stand out; it’s Rice’s ferocity in the batter’s box and the way he punishes mistakes. Rice’s bat speed, measured around 72.5 mph, has helped him generate exit velocities up to 110.9 mph this season. Rice can’t carry the lineup solo, and the same goes for Cody Bellinger, a talented player who needs support from those behind him. Still, Rice has already surpassed the organization’s expectations and should be a force for years.
Rice is a monster weapon who has bailed out the Yankees countless times this season. Meanwhile, Cruz is producing a swing-and-miss rate of 56.1 percent, the high mark in the American League for any single pitcher. He also leads MLB in the average distance hitters miss on off-speed pitches, meaning when batters swing and miss, they’re missing by more than eight inches on average. Cruz’s secret lies in delivering his fastball and splitter from the same release point. Hitters often think they’re chasing a belt-high four-seamer, only to realize too late that it’s a splitter diving into the dirt.
Bellinger remains the game’s premier left fielder, yet he could be a solution at first base if Paul Goldschmidt’s regression continues. As the Rays prepare for the next stretch, the Yankees will need these elements to stay relevant in the playoff race. The upcoming series with the Dodgers will not only test the depth of the lineup but also reveal how much of this momentum is for real and how much is a temporary spark.