Takeaways from the New York Yankees' trip to Baltimore

The New York Yankees traveled to Baltimore this weekend to play a three-game series against the Orioles. The Yankees left Baltimore with a series win, taking two out of three contests to push ahead to an overall record of 6-3, but there remain reasons for concern. 

Here are five takeaways from the series.

5. The starting rotation needs to get healthy

The Yankees starting rotation is currently without Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino and the club is feeling those absences. 

Clarke Schmidt, Rodon’s replacement in the rotation, threw just 3 1/3 innings in Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Orioles. Schmidt walked three batters and gave up four earned runs in that short space, raising his season ERA to 9.45.

Severino’s replacement -- rookie Jhony Brito -- did give up just one run in Saturday’s victory but has been unable to throw more than five innings in either of his two starts on the early season.

4. Anthony Volpe's growing pains continue

The Yankees young shortstop went just 1-for-11 over the weekend. 

The 21-year-old's most recent struggles have dropped his season average to .143. He currently holds an OPS of just .487. Volpe also has yet to hit a home run or even drive in his first run of the season.

The Yankees have hit the young rookie in the ninth spot to try and take the pressure off him, but it has not helped. Volpe struck out in five of his 11 at-bats to finish out the series.

3. Aaron Judge is still Aaron Judge

Arson Judge never came to light, but Aaron Judge is still here. There has been no hangover from last season's historic season and somehow the big slugger looks perhaps even more comfortable and confident in the early going this time around.

The Yankee slugger went 4-for-11 this weekend, with two home runs and three RBIs. 

Both home runs were hit in Sunday’s series finale, which locked up a Yankees series wins. The home runs traveled 416 feet and 385 feet.

2. Giancarlo Stanton looks strong and healthy

The Orioles controversially increased the height of the left field wall at Camden Yards and moved it further away from the plate, but it could not stop Stanton.

Stanton blasted a baseball 436 feet into the left-field seats on Saturday. Few things in baseball sound sweeter than when Stanton gets a hold of a baseball.

The Yankees slugger has hit the longest home run in the MLB this season, at 485 feet, as well as the hardest ball, at 117.8 MPH.

1. The AL East is going to be a dogfight

All five teams in the division should have a chance to make the playoffs in 2023. Nine games into the season, four squads in the East are over .500 and the only one below .500 is within a game of the mark.

The Orioles, who have been the doormat of the division for the last five seasons, are now contenders for the division. Just ask Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re a tough team to beat and they’re contenders now,” Boone said after the O’s beat the Yanks on Friday night. 

The Rays are 9-0, the Yankees have elite top-end pitching (Aaron Judge too), the Red Sox have Rafael Devers, the Blue Jays are full of stars, and the Orioles have a ton of young talent. The division race is going to be a battle this summer.