Suddenly, the overachieving 2017 New York Yankees have problems.
They’re getting drilled with injuries. Gary Sanchez (groin) and Aaron Hicks (Achilles) appear to have dodged a bullet and are considered day-to-day, but valuable relief pitcher Adam Warren wasn’t so lucky, as he was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Things aren’t great down on the farm either as Greg Bird’s (ankle) rehab stint was shut down Thursday and underwent a MRI Friday. Of course, the biggest recent blow was CC Sabathia suffering a hamstring injury that will force him to miss at least a month.
Speaking of getting drilled—the Yankees bullpen has been a flaming shit storm all week. Friday night it was Chase Shreve and Jonathan Holder (who are these guys?!) combining to give up three runs in the seventh and eighth innings as the Bombers dropped their season-high fourth consecutive game in Oakland, who are how you say—not very good.
The bullpen blew late game leads in three of these four losses. Aroldis Chapman returns on Sunday. He can’t get back soon enough. In his absence Delin Betances has been great but most his colleagues have pitched poorly, and that’s being generous. Tyler Clippard in particular has been disappointing. Clippard was spectacular in his seventh inning role when Chapman/Betances were both healthy. In an expanded role he’s been brutal, as his 5.06 ERA so far this month indicates.
New York’s lead over Boston in the AL East is down to one game. Get it together, bullpen.