Throughout a Major League Baseball seasons team go through highs and lows. Likewise, players face those same peaks and valleys. So after a sweep in Baltimore and a loss to the lowly Chicago White Sox in the Bronx. We examine the player’s who have been facing them in this edition of 3 Up and 3 Down. And be sure to take a look back at previous installments of this countdown.
1 Up- Dellin Betances
Betances has truly turned his season around from what was a dreadful 2017 campaign. Dellin has found himself pitching in 2018 to an ERA of 2.18 with an incredible 94 strikeouts in just 53.2 innings. And even breaking down what Betances has done over his last 30 games, Dellin’s got an ERA of .63 with 51 K’s in 28.2 innings. If Betances can keep this groove going he will be a serious weapon for the Yankees in October.
1 Down- Aroldis Chapman
In what has seemed like an every other month issue, Aroldis Chapman is once again dealing with problems in his knee. Chapman in again on the DL and wasn’t pitching like Chapman before hitting the DL. Over his last 6 innings of work, Chapman gave up 7 walks. When Aroldis is struggling it manifest itself in walks. Chapman will be a very crucial piece for the Yankees to achieve the ultimate goal of winning the World Series. So the Yanks will need to get these health issues resolved. Or the Bombers run in October may be shorter than anyone in the Bronx would like it to be.
2 Up- Luke Voit
In what seemed like a questionable trade after it was initially made, Luke Voit has turned it around. After being demoted to Triple-A, and acknowledging the fact that he was pressing at the plate to impress. Voit came back up after Didi Gregorius got hurt and has produced. Voit has nearly given Greg Bird the Wally Pip treatment. Over his last 7 games, Voit is slashing .476/.522/.905 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI’s. Obviously, a stretch like this can not be sustained over 162 game season. But in the Yankees quest to get back into the AL East Divisional hunt this type of performance truly helps that cause.
2 Down- Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge has been a very important piece to the Yankees all season long. However, over the last month, he has been out after a HBP. And although the initial time frame set by GM Brian Cashman set an unrealistic expectation for recovery, the Yankee slugger has yet to begin really swinging a bat. The Yankees are approaching a stretch of the season in which having Judge back and playing well will be of dire importance.
3 Up- Gary Sanchez
While no news of a timetable has emerged about Judge, Gary Sanchez is nearing a return to the Pinstripes. Sanchez has missed the better part of the last two months of the season, dealing with a groin injury. However, after rehabbing and dropping reportedly 15-20 pounds, Sanchez is said to be moving extremely well. Gary is expected to make his return when the Yankees head west to tale on the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners.
3 Down- Brett Garnder
The longest-tenured Yankee, Brett Gardner has not had the best of seasons. He is under his career norms at this point in the season. And those struggles continued over his last several games. Looking back at Brett’s last 30 contest, Gardy is slashing .211/.312/.312. Now one may say well Brett isn’t really a power threat. And that is true but his OBP is currently .33 points lower than his career average. And even lower still from his 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Brett will be a free agent after this season. And although he is beloved by his teammates in the clubhouse, younger outfielders are working their way up the ranks. Guys like Clint Frazier and (a bit further away) Estevan Florial are getting to a point their number will be called upon. Not to mention there is an outfielder who will also be a free agent (currently in the Nation’s Captial) that could be a good fit in pinstripes. Garnder needs to turn it around produce on the field if he wants to extend his Yankee tenure.
B.O.L.O- Gleyber Torres
After hitting a major slump over the last several weeks since his own return from the DL. To say that Gleyber Torres had struggled would be an understatement. But after this Player’s Weekend series against Baltimore, the Yankees middle infielder has started to pick it back up. When Torres came back from the DL, he was pulling off on the ball and rolling over many grounders. But against the O’s, he began using the whole field again. Gleyber using the whole field was a trademark of his early season success. Over his last 7 games, Gleyber is slashing .320/.433/.560 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s.
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