Now that the second half of the 2019 season is almost underway, it’s time to ask ourselves where the Yankees currently stand.
With a 6.5 game lead in the AL East, the Yankees have defied all odds and regained their championship form over the course of the first half. With Gary Sanchez and DJ LeMahieu carrying the offense while other stars have been out, we can expect them to continue the shift into the playoffs.
While the Yankees are on pace to break their own home run record yet again, it seems pretty unimaginable. If someone told you the Yankees have a chance to dominate opposing pitchers with the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Didi Gregorius, etc., missing the majority of the first half, you would spit your coffee out laughing hysterically. Having the All-Star break at this point in time is crucial for multiple players to rest up and be effective once the season turns over a new leaf.
Duplicating the same winning percentage will be hard, but I expect it out of this team. With Voit coming back into the picture the Yankees yet again have another dominant force in the lineup. A full-tilt Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks will only make this the offense more potent come October. Not knowing the status of Stanton is not the best news, but we have other players to fill that role. As we can assume Stanton will be back, look for him to prove his worth when it matters most. Do not forget he has barely played this year, so come playoff time, he should be fresh and hitting his stride.
Should Trevor Bauer Be The Top Trade Target for The Yankees?
Adding a pitcher or two seems to be in the cards, and I believe it will come sooner rather than later. With multiple reports that a pairing of Marcus Stroman and Ken Giles is on the table could be very enticing. The New York native Stroman seems like a seamless fit with a ball club that cares about winning at all costs. I also wouldn’t mind giving up a hefty amount for Luis Castillo from the Reds. He is a controllable young arm that could be the anchor behind Severino for many years to come.
With the returns of Severino and Betances, I expect a little turbulence to start, but everything will seem to come into picture in September. Since neither has a workload this year, I expect them to be a full go come playoff time to give us consistent innings and bring number 28 back to the Bronx.
Let’s go, ladies and gentleman, we have finished the halfway point and we are excited to see what the future holds for the 2019 Yankees.