Daily Report – 9/15/26
Yankees
This is not the end goal, far from it. But 61 postseason berths is an impressive achievement for the Yankees, who clinched a trip to October with the Blue Jays’ loss last night.
The Yankees also won their game, defeating the Minnesota Twins 8-3. Every win matters more than ever now. With four games until their four-game matchup next week, the Yankees rank 3.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the division lead.
At the very least, the Yankees are guaranteed a Wild Card series, likely a rematch with Boston. The Red Sox will throw plenty of lefties at the Yankees’ lineup, but Aaron Judge, who homered last night, strengthens the Yankees’ ability to hit off southpaws.
With Judge’s eighth-inning moonshot last night, his first long ball since returning from the injured list last week, the Yankees scored three runs off tough lefty AJ Minter. That would not have happened, however, if Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger hadn’t won their left-on-left matchups.
At the start of the eighth inning, the Yankees trailed 2-1. By the end, they led 7-3. George Lombard Jr. started the frame with a 111.1-mph double, the hardest-hit ball of his career. Then, Ryan McMahon managed an infield single, and two batters later, José Caballero grounded a game-tying single up the middle.
Caballero also homered in this game, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the third inning. He started the game 1-for-his-last-19, but was one of two players to reach base multiple times.
Caballero’s second hit prompted a pitching change, and then he and pinch-runner Anthony Volpe stole second and third base together. That helped Rice lift an inside cutter just high enough over the infield, bringing two runs home.
Subsequently, Bellinger singled, and Judge launched his 18th of the season into the upper deck in left field.
“It felt good, just like other swings,” Judge said. “At least I made contact that time, so it felt a little better than the other ones. I’m just trying to get better every single day, right? The ultimate goal is to be ready for the postseason, but we’ve got some important games the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be ready to go.”
On the mound, Will Warren had another solid start. The defense let him down in the sixth inning, which led to two unearned runs, but Warren didn’t give up any earned runs. In his last three starts, the righty has pitched to a 0.96 ERA, which is especially important as he likely prepares to enter the bullpen in October.
“When we’re at full strength, I feel like we’re unstoppable,” Warren said. “I think we’re a really good team, and we can do more. [Clinching a playoff berth] is the baseline. This is what we’re expected to do, so [let’s] continue to move forward and push the needle.”
In the sixth inning, after an error by Ryan McMahon nd a blunder by Lombard, Emmanuel Rodriguez tripled for a 2-1 Twins lead. Warren departed with two outs and a runner at third base, whom Michael Fulmer stranded. The Yankees eventually answered with six runs in the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Tim Hill surrendered a solo shot to Josh Bell, cutting the Yankees’ lead to four runs. But in the top of the ninth, Austin Wells hit his second home run in as many games, bringing the Yankees’ lead right back to five.
It’s been a difficult season, but unlike two years ago, the Yankees survived their captain’s extended absence. Now, with him back, anything is possible for this battle-tested crew.
“Credit to [our group] for coming together,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Through all the ups and downs, they’ve been a together group. I feel like they’ve developed a lot of grit over the season.”
Tonight, at 7:40 PM (6:40 PM CDT), LHP Max Fried (4-4, 2.73 ERA) will start for the Yankees against RHP Bailey Ober (7-5, 4.28 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
Here is tonight’s starting lineup for the New York Yankees:
DH Ben Rice (L)
LF Cody Bellinger (L)
RF Heliot Ramos (R)
1B Luis García Jr. (L)
CF Spencer Jones (L)
SS George Lombard Jr. (R)
2B Anthony Volpe (R)
C Ali Sánchez (R)
3B José Caballero (R)
SP: LHP Max Fried (4-4, 2.73 ERA)
Schedule
7:40 PM (6:40 PM CDT): NYY at MIN; YES, Gotham Sports; SP: LHP Max Fried (4-4, 2.73 ERA) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (7-5, 4.28 ERA)
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
