The first-place New York Yankees have struggled recently, looking more like a team near the bottom of the standings. They have dropped five consecutive games, including a 29-inning stretch without scoring a run that began last Sunday in Boston.
Following a 2-0 loss to the Red Sox, the Yankees were shut out twice at home by the Los Angeles Angels, losing 1-0 in 11 innings and then 4-0. As a result, their lead in the American League East has shrunk to just 2.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox, meanwhile, sit in fourth place, trailing by 5.5 games.
Historically, the Yankees have experienced being shut out in three straight games only seven times in their 123-year history, with just three occurrences in the past 50 years. The last major league team to be blanked four games in a row was the Kansas City Royals in 2017. Over their last six games, the Yankees have scored only five runs total, a drought not seen since August 1968.
Aaron Judge has been a notable example of the Yankees’ offensive struggles. The two-time AL MVP has managed only one hit in 11 at-bats during the recent scoreless games, with six strikeouts and two intentional walks. Over his last five games, Judge is 2-for-20 with 13 strikeouts and just one home run, causing his batting average to drop from .394 to .372.
Despite the slump, the Yankees remain among the top five teams in the majors in runs scored, home runs, and OPS. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the rough patch but stressed the importance of focusing on small details to turn things around. After Tuesday’s loss, the team held a players-only meeting, with outfielder Cody Bellinger expressing confidence that the team will break out of the slump soon. The Yankees are set to continue their series against the Angels at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
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