The New York Yankees seemingly forgot how to play baseball since July.
They have a losing record in both July and August, and have seen their lead in the AL East decrease to nine games.
Their bullpen is not as sharp as it was earlier in the season, and the starting pitching suffered Luis Severino‘s injury.
No area has been more problematic than the offense, though.
The Yankees continue to field below-average players in key positions.
However, one of the injured stars is close to returning to action to give the lineup a jolt: Giancarlo Stanton is set to start a rehab assignment at the Yanks’ Double-A affiliate.
“Giancarlo Stanton is expected to start a rehab assignment with Somerset tomorrow, Aaron Boone says,” The Athletic’s Lindsey Adler tweeted on Friday afternoon.
Giancarlo Stanton is expected to start a rehab assignment with Somerset tomorrow, Aaron Boone says.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) August 19, 2022
Stanton’s Potent Bat Could Definitely Help The Sliding Yankees
Stanton has 24 home runs and a .498 slugging percentage: it’s definitely not his sharpest or more impressive season, but he has produced for the most part.
The Yankees can expect, without a doubt, better production than the one their are currently getting from Aaron Hicks, Tim Locastro, Miguel Andujar, and other struggling, more limited players.
The All-Star Game MVP feels much better and his Achilles injury seems like a thing of the past.
He should need about a week’s worth of rehab games, perhaps even less, and could make his long-awaited return around the end of next week.
The sliding Yankees need his production more than ever, as his presence in the middle of the lineup is badly missed.
Once Stanton and Harrison Bader (plantar fasciitis, expected back in September) return, Hicks’ playing time could be diminished considerably.
NEXT: Frankie Montas Is Having A Rough Adjustment To New York