With an MLB-best 10 victories to start the season, the New York Yankees have given fans hope that a disastrous 2023 campaign is firmly in the rearview mirror.
Though their crosstown rival New York Mets will be in the playoffs, ESPN’s AJ Mass has predicted that the Yankees still lack the talent to make a run at the postseason, and the team’s good start hasn’t convinced him.
“Are the Mets a superior team to the Yankees?” Mass enquired in a collection post on 2024 MLB predictions. “Yes, but they also compete in a division where there will probably be close races throughout the entire season.”
The Yankees will “start golfing early” despite winning 90 games, according to Mass, because it won’t be enough to secure a postseason spot in the American League East.
The Yankees have been winning by narrow margins despite their recent surge to double-digit wins, and Mass pointed out that their “stacked lineup has already been shut out twice.” Additionally, he brought up the early injury problems, the most recent of which being the season-long absence of reliever Jonathan Loáisiga.
Despite early injuries, the New York Yankees are leading the MLB standings.
With a 91.5 win total, FanGraphs currently projects the Yankees as having the best chance to win the American League East. According to FanGraphs, the team has the highest odds to win it all—behind only the Atlanta Braves (21.4%) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (15.7%)—with an 88.9% likelihood of making the playoffs and a 9.9% chance of winning the World Series.
However, the team has already seen a fair share of injury issues, which always have the potential to ruin even the most certain dreams of taking home an MLB championship.
For example, team captain Gerrit Cole began the season on the disabled list due to elbow issues. Even if he might be back on the mound as soon as May, there’s a good chance the Yankees won’t have him when the postseason race heats up.
“I’m assuming Gerrit Cole isn’t coming back, given everything we’ve seen with the conversation around pitching injuries as (we) sit here today and we talk about whether he will,” ESPN’s Buster Olney stated during a podcast episode of “Baseball Tonight.”
DJ LeMahieu, the team’s anticipated leadoff hitter, has also not yet participated in a game this season, but manager Aaron Boone said he will soon “get into some rehab games.”
But Loáisiga’s injury has brought attention to a deeper issue for the Yankees, whose bullpen has been among the worst in MLB at producing strikeouts, prompting cries for a replacement.
Zachary Rymer wrote for Bleacher Report, saying, “Despite its early success, don’t be so sure that New York’s pen is capable of withstanding Loáisiga’s absence as is.” It is only striking out batters at the lowest rate in Major League Baseball (15.3%). In light of this, his successor should preferably be a bat-missing individual.
Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto Have Been Hot Starters for the New York Yankees
The Yankees have a lot to be happy about early in the season, of course. Juan Soto, the new outfielder, has slashed.344/.468/.541 with 15 RBI in his first 61 at-bats, setting a record that is quite amazing. Anthony Volpe, a teenage shortstop, has also played well, slashing.382/.477/.564 in his first 55 at-bats.
However, the possibility of the Yankees’ season taking a negative turn because of injuries will linger throughout the season following a promising 2023 that was ultimately destroyed by injuries.
