Aaron Judge, Yankees heating (and healing) up
The New York Yankees did not get off to a great start in 2023.
Despite their annual lofty expectations, a rash of early injuries at essentially every position saw the Bronx Bombers sitting at 15-15 and in last place in the American League East after a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on May 1.
Then things got worse once reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge hit the injured list on May 2. But since the slugger returned on May 9, the Yankees have begun to right the ship—going 10-3 since his activation and 6-1 since May 15 to work their way up to third place in the division—thanks in no small part to their captain.
While Judge's return has been a key part of New York's resurgence, he's not the only important piece of the puzzle helping get the team back on track. Fellow outfielder Harrison Bader (who came to the Yankees via trade with the St. Louis Cardinals last season and began the 2023 campaign on the IL with an oblique injury), has also made an immediate impact both at the plate and roaming centerfield when he was reinstated on May 3.
Starting pitcher Luis Severino also made a solid season debut, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing a single run on Sunday against the Reds in Cincinnati after recovering from a right lat strain. Former MVP Giancarlo Stanton is "really close" to beginning a rehab assignment as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain, according to NJ.com.
As important pieces of the Yankees continue to work their way back into the fold, a stacked AL East seems set to become an even tougher gauntlet than it has been so far.
The Tampa Bay Rays remain in first place after their torrid start to the season, winning their first 13 games and 17 of their first 20. The Baltimore Orioles seem to have taken the next step as an organization and sit in second place following their surprising 83-win season in 2022.
Even the two teams below the Yankees—the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays—have both scored more runs than they've allowed this season, making the AL East the only division with every team owning a positive run differential.
The way things stand now, the Yankees are going to need contributions from everyone if they're going to have a shot at winning the division, much less a pennant. With some reinforcements here and others on the way, they should get that shot.
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