2024 NY Yankees Preview
The Yankees missed the playoffs last season and it was ugly. Injuries, underperforming against everyone good and bad, a weak lineup and more all contributed. This season, New York added a generational talent, returns the CY Young winner, hopes for a full year from their captain and looks to catch lightning in a bottle with a collection of youngsters and traveled veterans in the game to contend for a World Series title, something they haven’t won since 2009. Here are five keys to the Yankees returning as AL East champs and making an October run.
1. Offensive production.
The pitching staff in recent years eventually doesn’t go deep into games through a whole season which then depletes the bullpen going into the playoffs. But, somehow, the Yankees manage to take band aids and tape and whatever else and gut through October with a chance to win every game with every arm in the pitching rotation and bullpen, respectively. The problem? The lineup. So often in playoff games you see the 3-20 or 5-25 or 3-17 or whatever number. That is with runners in scoring position. The Yankees can get on base. They usually do it early, but always fail to get that big early two out hit or late hit with runners on, whether it be Gleyber Torres or Giancarlo Stanton or DJ LeMahieu or even Aaron Judge. The Yankees traded a bundle of players to San Diego, including Michael King, to get Juan Soto, a generational talent who will clearly help the lineup from the left side. Can he be the difference for New York? Can he make this team once again dangerous in October from the plate? He won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019 and in seven postseason series has 7 HR and 21 RBI. The Yanks need that and more if they are ever to win it all again.
2. Marcus Stroman.
Gerrit Cole returns as the ace from his 2023 CY Young season and is very dependable as one of the best arms in the game. Clarke Schmidt is durable at the backend. After that? Good luck. Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes return from injuries and a lack of production. It’s Stroman, the local kid, who is high risk, high reward. He keeps the ball down. When it’s going well, he can dominate and loves the spotlight. When it’s bad? Watch out. Moody, barks at the media, a bad teammate and bad body language on the mound. If the Yankees get the good Stroman, this pitching staff changes instantly.
3. Health.
Every year the Yankees are injured, from position players to relievers and starters. It’s a consistent trend that has to stop. If most hands are on deck in mid-September, things should be going well for this team. But if you lose Judge again and say a reliever like Clay Holmes or newly acquired Caleb Ferguson and a starter like Schmidt, forget about it. There is no chance of catching the deeper teams in the American League like Houston and Texas and Baltimore.
4. Beat teams you should beat.
When you finish 82-80, you left a lot out there. Remember that mid-July series loss to Colorado and then getting swept by the Angels? Losing two of three to the White Sox and Nats? Those add up, especially late. The Yanks need to collect more wins against poor teams.
5. Anthony Volpe takes next step.
In an aging infield, Volpe needs to add to his solid, not spectacular 2023. He went for 20 HR and 20 SB but also struck out a ton. He did, however, win a Gold Glove to show his all-around play is for real. He handled the spotlight and wearing the uniform fine. Now, it is about sustainability and improvement. If Volpe produces just a bit more, it will take a ton of pressure off aging veterans around the horn.
Mike Lindsley is the host of the ML Sports Platter Podcast and has been in sports media for 25 years. Follow his YouTube channel @mlsportsplatter.
