Daily Report – 9/12/25
Yankees
Entering last night’s game, the Yankees had lost consecutive games by double-digit runs for the first time in franchise history. Last night, they flipped momentum back in their favor with a 9-3 laugher – much-needed as they prepare to battle the Red Sox. The Yankees lead Boston by a half-game in the standings, but the Red Sox hold the tiebreaker.
President Donald Trump attended last night’s Yankees game, and he visited with the team in the clubhouse beforehand. He cracked jokes with players, asking Anthony Volpe about his golf game, and he shook hands with the entire team, including Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
“No matter your beliefs, I think just especially today, 9/11, the strength and resilience that New York City showed during one of the darkest hours, darkest times, it’s just an important day for all of us to come together,” said Judge. “It’s just kind of a surreal moment, surreal day, and for us to come out with a big win, especially the last two losses we had, it was just an all-around great day. […] I guess we’ve got to have [President Trump] around more often if we’re going to go out there and score that many runs.”
Aaron Judge clocked three hits last night, including two home runs, which placed him alongside Joe DiMaggio for the fourth most homers in Yankees’ history. His first home run was a first-inning solo shot that gave the Yankees an early lead. Judge’s next dinger was his 46th of the season and the 361st of his career, tying DiMaggio. Also, Judge’s 45 career multi-homer games put him in third place in Yankees history, right behind Mickey Mantle’s 46 and Babe Ruth’s 68.
“Just two legends, greats of the game, great all-time Yankees,” Judge remarked. “It’s pretty cool being on a list with them, but I think it’s even cooler getting a win.”
That’s Judge, always putting his team before his own accomplishments. But his manager, Aaron Boone, was quick to compliment the superstar. “Joe DiMaggio. I mean, Joe DiMaggio! That feels like it’s been there forever,” he exclaimed. “Joe DiMaggio, in a lot of ways, transcended baseball. To be next to him on the list, [Judge] is going to be waving as he goes by. It’s been a privilege having a front-row seat to that.”
Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
Even if it was a bullpen game for Detroit, the Yankees gained some much-needed confidence as they put nine runs on the board against the American League Central-leading Tigers. Eight of nine starting players had at least one hit for New York, and in addition to Judge’s two home runs, Giancarlo Stanton hit a third-inning moonshot that soared into the left-field bleachers. Overall, the Yankees went 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position, which shows they used more than just home runs to score.
But perhaps more impressive was how rookie Cam Schlittler shut down one of the best lineups in baseball. Across six innings, he threw 95 pitches and allowed just one run on five hits, striking out seven. Schlittler struggled against Toronto last Friday because he was keeping his high-speed fastball on the same plane of the strike zone, making it easier to hit. Last night, he introduced a more detailed pitch mix, including more cutters, curveballs, and sinkers. He also changed speeds and location on his fastball at times to keep hitters guessing.
“I had some conversations with some other players in here and coaches,” said Schlittler, who admitted he may have been tipping his pitches last Friday when he allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings against Toronto. “It wasn’t really my initial thought after the last outing, but that was something I needed to make the adjustment for. It’s something I’ve got to keep working on over the next few weeks.”
After Judge put the Yankees ahead in the first inning with a solo home run, Detroit tied the game in the top of the second inning. The Yankees weren’t scared, though, and they struck back in the bottom half. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled and stole second base before Ben Rice doubled him home, and José Caballero drove in Rice with a single to left field. The Yankees were leading 3-1.
In the third inning, Gleyber Torres doubled to right field, but Kerry Carpenter lined out to Chisholm, who quickly threw the ball to second base for a double play. From there, the Yankees cruised onward. Aaron Judge hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the third inning, and Giancarlo Stanton added on to put the Yankees ahead 5-1. In the fourth inning, Rice doubled, and Caballero singled before Austin Slater’s RBI single made it 6-1. Then, with the bases loaded, Cody Bellinger and Chisholm each singled to give the Yankees a 9-1 lead.
Dillon Dingler homered off Ryan Yarbrough in the seventh inning, and Detroit scored another run in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to catch up with the Yankees, who got the victory. They look to carry that momentum up to Boston tonight.
But before I preview this weekend’s battle with the Red Sox, I want to discuss the state of Anthony Volpe. The Yankees made a surprising announcement yesterday when they revealed that Volpe received a cortisone shot in his left shoulder. The injury can be traced back to May 3 when he felt a pop in his shoulder during a game against Tampa Bay. Yet, the Yankees insist that while Volpe’s injury has been bothering him for several months, it hasn’t impacted his play.
First, the injury – a partially torn labrum – definitely impacted his play, despite what the Yankees say. How could it not? Second, while it seems like the Yankees have been sidelining Volpe because of his injury – as opposed to benching him due to poor play – the team continues to insist the injury isn’t why Volpe’s performance has sunk tremendously. Last season, Anthony Rizzo played through post-concussion symptoms, and even though he looked lost at the plate, the Yankees continued to play him. They seem to be doing the same thing with Anthony Volpe.
“I feel like he’s been in a good spot physically,” Aaron Boone said. “I think everybody deals with certain things, so it’s impossible to say this affected something this much or didn’t at all. How could you possibly know that? But I don’t think it’s been a major factor in his performance, or his ability to swing the bat, or his ability to kind of go to the post every day.”
Players don’t always report their injuries to coaching or medical staff, and in cases like this, nobody on the team can force Volpe to take time to nurse his injury. However, as much as the Yankees have nurtured and protected Volpe over the last three years, it’s shocking how poorly they’ve managed his injury. They cannot break the kid.
But it’s back to business tonight for the Yankees as they head up to Boston for a true make-or-break series. The “gauntlet,” as many have named this 12-game stretch of games against playoff-bound American League teams, ends in Boston, and the Yankees need a series win. They currently sit just a half-game ahead of Boston for second place in the division, and Toronto is merely three games ahead. The Red Sox and Blue Jays each hold the tiebreaker over the Yankees, and if the playoffs started today, the Yankees would host Boston in a three-game Wild Card series. As much as the Yankees want to avoid the Wild Card round, they want to at least secure home-field advantage.
“Obviously, [Boston] has had our number and they’ve had their way with us this year,” Aaron Boone said. “We know it’s gonna be a tough series, and hopefully we can go out there and set a nice tone early.”
The Yankees need to overcome their recent run-scoring and bullpen issues if they want to beat Boston. The Red Sox will put the ball in play every chance they get, which means Yankees pitchers must be on their A-game. Boston’s rotation and bullpen certainly will be, so the Yankees need to also find ways to put the ball in play, just like they did last night against Detroit.
Boston won a record-setting eight straight games against New York this season, and while the Yankees avoided a four-game sweep three weeks ago, Boston still holds momentum with an 8-2 record against them. However, given the current standings, none of that matters now. It is quite literally all in front of the Yankees. It’s there for the taking if they play their best baseball. The Yankees must play clean, tight games in Boston this weekend, and this will be their final regular-season series against a playoff-bound team.
Will they pass the test?
The epic three-game series between the Yankees and Red Sox begins tonight at 7:10 PM (6:10 PM CDT) at Fenway Park, and the Yankees will send RHP Luis Gil (3-1, 3.31 ERA) to the mound against RHP Lucas Giolito (10-3, 3.38 ERA) (Apple TV+).
The last time the Yankees faced Giolito, they were able to break through, but Gil was pitching for New York, and he couldn’t locate his fastball. The Yankees’ bullpen ultimately lost that game, but they hope to turn things around tonight.
Tomorrow, at 4:10 PM (3:10 PM CDT), LHP Max Fried (16-5, 3.02 ERA) will face RHP Brayan Bello (11-6, 3.12 ERA) (YES). The last time the Yankees faced Bello, he was sensational. It was the best game he ever pitched against them, and perhaps the best game of his career. Fried was excellent for the Yankees that day, but their offense couldn’t produce, so it didn’t matter.
On Sunday, at 7:10 PM (6:10 PM CDT), the Yankees will send RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.22 ERA) to the bump against LHP Garrett Crochet (15-5, 2.57 ERA) in a Sunday Night Baseball matchup (ESPN). Crochet has owned the Yankees this season, with a 2.95 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and a .195 opponent batting average in 21.1 innings pitched against them. The last time he started, Warren was pitching for the Yankees, and he gave up a lot of early runs. Hopefully, Warren will build off his terrific start against Detroit when he faces Boston on Sunday. But will the Yankees be able to find their way against Crochet? If they can, it would be a crucial step forward for them, especially if they go on to face Boston in a Wild Card series, in which Crochet would likely start Game 1.
Giants
Do you know what rhymes? “Big Blue” and “oh-and-two.” The New York Giants are destined to go 0-and-2.
If the Giants continue to struggle offensively, it won’t matter what their defense does. We’ll see this weekend just how much the offensive line has changed (spoiler alert: it hasn’t). Andrew Thomas has been ruled doubtful to play, although he practiced twice this week. However, it was in a limited capacity, and due to how valuable he is to the Giants, they need to treat him carefully.
“We missed on a few things [in Week 1], whether it was a block here or a read key here,” said Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. “We have to do a better job on first and second down. We have to do a better job early in the game, get into a rhythm, and get our guys going.”
“But how, coach? We’re too used to losing,” is what the Giants’ offense should tell their play-caller, because not one thing clicked in Washington last Sunday. Why should fans believe things will change in Dallas? The last time the Giants played the Cowboys was last season on Thanksgiving Day, and they lost 27-10.
Sunday’s game will air on FOX at 1 PM (12 PM CDT).
Schedule
Tonight 9/12:
7:10 PM (6:10 PM CDT): Friday Night Baseball – NYY at BOS; AppleTV+; SP: RHP Luis Gil (3-1, 3.31 ERA)
Saturday 9/13:
4:10 PM (3:10 PM CDT): NYY at BOS; YES; SP: LHP Max Fried (16-5, 3.02 ERA)
Sunday 9/14:
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): NFL on FOX, Week 2 – New York Giants (0-1) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1); FOX
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): NFL on CBS, Week 2 – New York Jets (0-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (1-0); CBS, Paramount+
7:10 PM (6:10 PM CDT): Sunday Night Baseball – NYY at BOS; ESPN; SP: RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.22 ERA)
8:20 PM (7:20 PM CDT): Sunday Night Football (SNF), Week 2 – Atlanta Falcons (1-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-0); NBC, Peacock
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): Football Night in America (FNIA); NBC
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): Hyundai Sunday Night Kickoff; NBC, Peacock
8:10 PM (7:10 PM CDT): GEICO Sunday Night Anthem; NBC, Peacock
