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The Final Run

This coming Saturday will mark the final month of the regular season. For the New York Yankees, it’s been one heck of a roller-coaster season filled with winning streaks and heart-breaking losses. The up and down season has a lot to do with a few key injuries the Bombers have endured. Coming into the 2018 season, the main concern for the team was their starting pitching being able to be consistent and most importantly, stay healthy. With the exception of their ace pitcher Luis Severino, it seems like every starting pitcher is either gone for the season due to an injury or have spent some time on the 10-day disabled list due to injury. I should cross my fingers to avoid the jinx when it comes to Severino. The offense for the team has taken a few blows as well. Players such as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius are currently on the DL dealing with injuries. That’s basically the heart of the Yankees lineup that has produced a combined 62 home runs thus far. With the Yankees hoping to still have a fighting chance to snatch the American League East crown away from the rival Red Sox, they are six games back as we go to press. Help is on the way!

In a recent trip to Boston, the Yankees were swept 4 games straight by the Sox which gave them a commanding 10-game lead in the AL East. Since then, the Bronx Bombers have been playing better baseball of late winning 8 of their last 10 games and in the process, they have gained ground on the Sox by four games after they were swept themselves this past weekend by the Rays. It was reported during a recent Yankee telecast that the team will be getting some key players come September. That alone should give the Yankees that spark they need as they prepare for the postseason. The team’s catcher, Gary Sanchez, has been out since July 24 with a groin injury. Gregorius has been sidelined for about a week so far after injuring his heel colliding with an opposing player. Judge is still perhaps a few weeks away recovering from a fractured wrist and let’s not forget about the team’s flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman who is out currently with a nagging knee injury. The Yankees have held their own and have found ways to collect some much-needed wins thanks to a usual slugging suspect in Giancarlo Stanton and the energy boosts provided from the bats of Miguel Andujar and Luke Voit.

Although it still remains a sure “long shot” for the Yankees to win the AL East, the team is still in control of the first wild card, which will ultimately give them a home game in a win or go home one-game playoff. The pitching rotation throughout the season has bent but has not broken. The additions of pitchers J. A. Happ and Lance Lynn have given the team some quality innings while the team’s best pitcher (Severino) has struggled over the last month or so. The enforcers in both the pitching and hitting is coming. The question is, “Does this Yankee ball club have what it takes to catch the Sox and make a strong playoff push deep into October?” That question will be answered as far as how will this team be defined. It should be a lot of fun to watch.

Sports Notes: (Football) Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. has signed a new 5-year/ $95 million-dollar contract extension making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL. Is he worth it? E-mail me at Castroeddie714@gmail.com and let’s chop it up!

 

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