Sitting atop the AL East with a 13-6 record, the New York Yankees have played outstanding baseball in their brief opening stint. Despite losing their ace Gerrit Cole to begin the year, the Yanks have put together incredible wins to start the season. Kicking off the 162-game schedule with a series sweep over the flailing Houston Astros, many fans have begun to marvel at how different the team looks from last year. With blockbuster offseason trades and smart free-agent signings, the storied franchise has finally started to look like the Yankees of old. Though it is extremely early, there is no doubt that the New York Yankees can go all the way and win their 28th championship. Their culmination of bonafide star power, solid role-playing and elite pitching make them incredibly dangerous for any team within the MLB.
With blockbuster offseason additions such as Juan Soto, Marcus Stroman and Alex Verdugo, the Yanks have looked as fresh and energized as ever. Retaining key pieces from last year, the team now sits with arguably the best-hitting lineup in the American League. The new three-headed monster of Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton has continued to strike fear into opposing pitchers, as each is capable of beaming a ball straight into the stands. The new Bronx Bombers have made their impact heavily felt so far this year, hitting 13 of the team’s 22 total home runs.
The pinstripes’ role players have also contributed a great deal so far, proving early that they are more than championship caliber. Fan favorites such as Verdugo, Anthony Volpe and Anthony Rizzo all played exceptionally well early on, avoiding errors and making the most of their time on the plate.
The preseason loss of Cy Young winner Cole was a huge blow to the Yanks’ rotation, but many pitchers have stepped up and played amazingly in Cole’s absence. While Nestor Cortes Jr. and Carlos Rodón have somewhat struggled in early innings, their ability to paint the zone has made them key contributors to the team’s early success. Others in the rotation such as Stroman, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, have all pitched outstanding games so far, throwing smooth sliders and heated fastballs. Their efforts this year have almost always been aided by the elite throwing of closer Clay Holmes, who has given up zero runs in nine total innings. Playing at such a high level early, the team’s pitching can only improve once their star ace returns to the starting rotation.
Though some have tried to dispute the Yankees’ title hopes this season, it is undeniable that the roster and play so far have been nothing short of exceptional. Their abundance of talent at nearly every position certainly makes them the best team in the AL East and arguably the best team in the entire American League. Barring injury, it is hard to imagine a scenario where the New York Yankees do not make the World Series this season.
