Dates: March 20, 2024 – June 16, 2024

The New York Yankees, a powerhouse team in Major League Baseball, struggled last season due to injuries and several players hitting a slump, finishing with a record of 82 wins and 80 losses. This performance not only meant they missed the playoffs, but it was also one of their worst showings in recent years.

During the 2023-2024 off-season, the Yankees made several significant enhancements to their roster. Along with the rise of many promising young players adapting well to the major leagues, this season the Yankees have exhibited exceptional performance in pitching, offense, and defense. Currently, they lead with a record of 50 wins and 23 losses, making them the first team in the majors to reach 50 wins this season.

This article will analyze the mid-season performance of the Yankees in various aspects including starting pitchers, relief pitchers, overall offense, defense, and a month-by-month performance breakdown. Additionally, we will explore how the Yankees can continue to leverage their strengths for the remainder of the season, potentially aiming for their 28th World Series title.

This series will comprise three articles. This first part (Part 1) will cover the starting and relief pitchers. The next part (Part 2) will discuss the overall offense and defense, and the final article (Part 3) will analyze the Yankees’ monthly performance and their potential strategy for the rest of the season.

⚾️ New York Yankees Starting Pitchers’ Performance ⚾️

Here is the current overall data performance of the Yankees’ starting pitchers:

This season, the Yankees’ starting pitchers have been exceptional, achieving a league-leading team ERA of 2.85. Despite the absence of ace Gerrit Cole due to injury, they have exceeded expectations.

Here is the current performance of the Yankees’ starting rotation (with at least 50 innings pitched):

Out of the five starting pitchers with more than 10 appearances this season, three have an ERA below 3.00 (Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt), and the other two (Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon) have managed to keep their ERA below 4.00, showing great stability in the starting rotation.

In the 2023-2024 off-season, the Yankees signed Marcus Stroman to a two-year deal, a clear move to bolster their starting rotation. Although Stroman has struggled with control and doesn’t strike out many batters, his ability to suppress hits has improved. His endurance allows him to deliver stable performances for the Yankees.

Additionally, due to Gerrit Cole’s injury and Luis Gil’s excellent performance in spring training, Gil has had more opportunities to start in MLB this season. Gil has started 14 games, double the amount in his previous two seasons (2021, 2022), largely thanks to his exceptionally low batting average against (.142) and effective fastball-slider combination.

After signing a six-year deal with the Yankees at the end of the 2022 season, left-hander Carlos Rodon had a subpar performance last season with an ERA of 6.85. However, this year, Rodon has stabilized and is now delivering performances reminiscent of his peak years (2021, 2022), leading to nine wins, tied for the most in the majors.

Great news for the Yankees and their fans: Gerrit Cole struck out ten in 4 1/3 innings in a Triple-A rehab game yesterday, showing his strikeout capabilities are intact. Post-game, Cole reported feeling great and is eager to return to the team. With his performance improving and pitch count increasing, his return to the Yankees’ starting rotation could happen quickly, further strengthening their pitching staff.

⚾️ New York Yankees Relief Pitchers’ Performance ⚾️

Here is the current overall data performance of the Yankees’ relief pitchers:

Besides the starting pitchers’ excellent performances, the Yankees’ bullpen has also been impressive. Currently, their relief pitchers have an overall ERA of 3.17, ranking third in the majors. Additionally, the team has secured 25 saves, tied for second in the league with the Cleveland Guardians.

However, the Yankees’ bullpen has shown some instability recently. In June, of the eight main relievers, three had a monthly ERA below 2.00 (Victor Gonzalez, Michael Tonkin, Caleb Ferguson), but three also had an ERA over 7.00 (Ian Hamilton, Tommy Kahnle, Dennis Santana), indicating a polarized situation.

The team’s closer, Clay Holmes, has been remarkably consistent, allowing runs in only three of his 31 appearances, none of which were earned. Although Holmes has a higher batting average against (.263) this season, his ability to induce ground balls has significantly mitigated the damage from hits.

For the 2023-2024 season, the Yankees focused on strengthening their bullpen’s left-handed pitching. After losing key left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta to free agency

, who eventually joined the San Diego Padres, the Yankees traded for two left-handed relievers from the Los Angeles Dodgers (Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzalez), aiming to enhance their bullpen’s ability to suppress left-handed hitters. This strategic move has shown excellent results.

This concludes the analysis of the Yankees’ pitching for this article. The next part (Part 2) will cover the Yankees’ offense and defense.

Sources:
Fangraphs
MLB Official Website
Baseball Reference
Taiwan Baseball Wiki
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