By: Tobey Schulman
The New York Yankees have exceeded expectations from many to start the season. With the absence of Gerrit Cole, the pitching staff has stepped up big time, with the bullpen being one of the best in baseball. The offense has been everything Yankee fans would have dreamed of with Juan Soto appearing to be the AL MVP front runner and Aaron Judge beginning to heat up. After sweeping the red hot Twins in Minnesota, the Yankees now are the first team in the American League to reach 30 wins, and will look ahead to a series against the White Sox.
The Yankees are in the midst of a stretch where they have won 10 of their last 12 games. Those wins include a sweep over the Tigers, their second series win of the year against the Astros, a series win against the Rays, and a sweep as previously mentioned against the Twins. After the Twins surged to get back to second place in the AL Central, the sweep stuck them back in third place, 2.5 games back of the division lead.
Game one featured multi-hit performances from Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Gleyber Torres. Carlos Rodon also put together an incredibly strong outing, going six innings, striking out six, and only giving up one run on six hits. His command was great all start, not allowing a single walk.Â
Game two was led by Aaron Judge and Marcus Stroman. Judge destroyed a 467 foot home run and tallied three doubles in an incredible 4-4 performance. Stroman put together a shut-out start across his six innings pitched, where he only allowed two hits. Stanton also recorded another two hits and an RBI, while Alex Verdugo went 2-5 on the day as well.Â
With the series win secured, Clarke Schmidt looked to go out and give the Yankees a chance to bring the brooms out in Minnesota. He did more than he was expected, having a career outing going eight shutout innings, allowing three hits, striking out eight, and walking none. Volpe, Judge, and Torres would put together two-hit performances as well, and the Yankees brought the brooms out, taking the final game of the series 5-0.Â
The Yankees record now sits at 30-15. They look to stay hot heading to southside Chicago this weekend for a series against the White Sox. Nestor Cortes will go against Mike Clevinger, as the Yankees look to go for their fifth straight win.Â