BRONX, NY — For the Yankees, there is a slight concern. Then again there should be after losing two out of three to the Twins this weekend in the Bronx. A concern due to losing nine of their last 10 games and 12 of their last 15. Reeling in other words as the Rays continue to surge in the American League East division as the team to beat.
Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium was a similar theme in this drastic turn of events, revolving around mediocre starting pitching, lack of consistent hitting to score runs, mileage from a taxed bullpen and errors.
There are concerns in the Bronx as the Yankees have lost their last nine of 10 games with their latest coming Sunday vs. the Twins – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
An error from shortstop Anthony Volpe led to a two-run Twins sixth inning, resulting in that same theme appearing again for the Yankees. Trailing 6-0 shortly after, a constant occurrence in this stretch with trying to come from behind. That’s 20 errors in their last 15 games. Losing Sunday’s rubber game by a final of 6-1, the Yankees never led and have scored 29 runs in their last 15 games.
Ouch. Yes, that’s the word in a mediocre American League.
The division leading Rays are next at Tropicana Field, a four game tilt and the second to last series for the Yankees prior to the All-Star break. For sure plenty of baseball remains but a road swing that also takes the Yankees to Washington, D.C. to face the Nationals, a young and improved team in the NL postseason hunt, after the Rays matchup.
Ben Rice has gone cold lately at the plate, hitting .160 across his last seven games with two home runs, three RBI, four walks & seven strikeouts – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
A concern? There has to be. The Yankees’ run production has declined, meanwhile their play leads to many more questions. The Twins had not won a series in the Bronx since 2014 before this weekend, leading to more questions. Then again this year’s Minnesota team is vastly improved and playing better week by week.
But in the Yankees clubhouse during Sunday’s postgame, there was that urgency to understand it has to get better. Yes, accounting also for the absences of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and starters Max Fried and Carlos Rodón perhaps played a role in this sudden turn of events. But to the Yankees, they are too talented and have the ability to overcome voids on their roster. Fried is working his way back to the rotation yet Rodón (a two-time LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year) has no return date.
The Yankees recently placed two-time LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year Carlos Rodón on the injured list with left elbow inflammation – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Stanton had another setback and for Judge, the captain may not be available until mid-late August or the beginning of an important stretch run in September. And that’s being optimistic. Regardless, this isn’t what the Yankees envisioned, and obvious needs are on the agenda for improvement prior to MLB’S August 3rd Trade Deadline for general manager Brian Cashman.
This loss was also attributed to Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan, tossing seven scoreless innings, while allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out nine. The right-hander would follow through with swings and misses on a curveball and fastball that were too much to handle.
“We had a good plan and executed it well,” Ryan said after the win, becoming the first Twins pitcher to throw at least seven scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium since former LatinoMVP Award winner Johan Santana in July of 2005.
Joe Ryan shut down the Yankees Sunday afternoon in the Bronx on seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and three hits allowed – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
And on the home side, Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited after five innings with right toe discomfort. X-rays shortly after came back negative and he will be evaluated on Monday.
Yoendrys Gomez, in a mop up role for Minnesota’s bullpen in the ninth inning, surrendered the only Yankees run on the day.
“We didn’t do a good job of getting on base,” Cody Bellinger said, who was 1-4. “We didn’t manufacture any baserunners today, it’s hard to win like that. At the end of the day, we have to get on base, steal bases, score some runs, and manufacture runs.”
Like Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger has been slumping at the plate, currently in a 4-44 skid dating back to June 21st – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Bellinger is in a 4-for-44 skid at the plate as Chisholm, prior to leaving the game, got caught in a rundown that eliminated traffic on the bases. Another mishap on the diamond by the pinstripes.
“We just hate losing. I mean, concern level is high because everybody’s just trying to work on certain things every day and try to help the game and help the team win every day when it’s not going well,” Chisholm said.
Get the thrust of this, the Yankees are not playing good baseball despite holding the second best record in the AL, (49-40), further indicating mediocrity and leaving more opportunity for at least a Wild Card spot if the Rays continue to take command of the AL East.
Junior Caminero’s first half to the 2026 regular season campaign has him in the talks for this year’s American League LatinoMVP Award alongside Yordan Álvarez – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
And the Yankees are not hitting home runs as of recently. They continue to lead baseball with the long ball on the year, but there are other ways to win and simply, it’s not evident. In their last 15 games, the Yankees are 10-for-91 with runners in scoring position and like many, they too are wondering when will this talented lineup produce?
“It’s something that has plagued us when you are not hitting the ball out of the ballpark,” commented manager Aaron Boone. “You are going to go through that stretch every year. That’s not necessarily what’s ailing us. When you are not popping balls out of the yard, you have to take advantage of opportunities.”
In Sunday’s postgame, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said: “We’ve got capable people, capable guys going out there and helping us win. But we’ve got to put it together as a group” – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
And when it seems there are opportunities, the Yankees have not risen to the occasion—further evidence of this poor theme and overall game on the field that has put them in a precarious position. If they don’t hit, they have to get production from a starting pitcher and that has not materialized.
Four innings from Ryan Weathers, one of many Yankees recovering from food poisoning, was not efficient and productive enough as he struggled against a proficient Twins lineup. After him, out of the bullpen Paul Blackburn allowed a two-out walk that led to a two-run Brooks Lee single in the fifth.
Boone said his starter battled, but Weathers said he let his team down. Another common theme in this stretch has been starters not keeping the opposing team from scoring first. Boone admitted to that in the postgame, stating “a couple of guys have had a couple of rough starts.”
Ryan Weathers pitched four innings on Sunday against the Twins while still recovering from food poisoning and allowed four runs with six strikeouts – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Weathers, Will Warren, even their ace Gerrit Cole, with overall good command, have struggled. Add All-Star Cam Schlittler to the struggles also during this stretch.
They say hitting, pitching, and fielding are contagious. Though after this weekend series vs. the Twins, it’s a matter of when the contagious syndrome will lead to success instead of failure for the Yankees.
Perhaps it’s that bad stretch, as Boone said because every team sustains the good, bad, and the ugly throughout 162 games.
The Yankees will go up against the AL East division leading Rays this week for a four game set starting up on Monday night in Tampa Bay – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But the Yankees need to get back to what they are good at down in Tampa, beginning Monday evening. Schlittler, Warren and Cole will start the first three games with hopes of a turnaround.
If not, this will become more ugly and not in a good position prior to MLB’s All-Star break.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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