Before the Yankees’ Sept. 7 game against Toronto, the Hall-of-Fame lefty was honored for his induction to Cooperstown this summer.
CC Sabathia tosses out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK – Sticking to Sunday’s postgame Yankee script, Max Fried wasn’t looking much beyond the next series.
An MLB-best stretch 20 wins in their last 29 games has revived the Yankees’ chance of repeating as AL East champs, with 19 regular-season games remaining – none against first-place Toronto.
“We’ve got to lock in and take care of business on our end,’’ Fried said straightforwardly, after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays, completing their season series.
Here are five things to watch this week:
Aaron Judge vs. Giancarlo Stanton in right field
As mentioned by manager Aaron Boone, this is about as healthy as the Yankees have been all season, but there are still some concerns.
Aaron Judge’s right arm strength is compromised due to a flexor tendon issue.
Boone initially said he didn’t anticipate Judge’s throwing to be at full capacity, and the early returns suggest this will be something to watch for the balance of 2025.
With some caution, Judge made two throws to second base on Sunday but chose not to challenge a throw home on a sacrifice fly in his second right field start since Friday’s defensive return.
Choosing between a subpar defender in Giancarlo Stanton (with all the inherent injury risk) and a compromised Judge is a daily decision for Boone, and the Blue Jays were clearly eager to test Judge’s arm with aggressive baserunning.
How Yankees relay signs to each other on field
Are the Yankees just a little too obvious with their sign-signaling stuff?
Before a Max Scherzer delivery, Judge waved his arms in an exaggerated gesture, signaling during a 10-pitch at-bat that led to a key Ben Rice three-run homer.
Afterward, Toronto manager John Schneider acknowledged that the “Yankees were good’’ at relaying pitches, that “it was fair game’’ and it’s on Scherzer to better conceal his grip.
Anything that can be picked up by the naked eye and relayed on the field in real time is fair, but there are more subtle ways to accomplish that aim.
And these two clubs have warred on related issues, like that time in 2023 when Judge’s eyes darted toward the dugout before a pitch, with speculation that he was receiving pitch location.
It’s at least something to watch if they meet in postseason, and with how other opposing clubs might deal with similar unsubtle signaling in the Yanks’ final six series.
Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero: Yankees’ daily choice at shortstop
Speaking of day-to-day starting decisions, are we there yet at the shortstop position?
Anthony Volpe is coming off a rough game Sunday, lost at the plate with an 0-for-3 and three strikeouts, with some swings indicating he was either indecisive or badly fooled.
Defensively, Volpe’s third inning throwing error was his MLB-leading 19th error of the year, part of a season-long trend, though he did make two very good plays as well.
But with Jose Caballero available and able to impact games with his speed (he leads the AL with 43 steals) and daring, he ought to be an increasing option for Boone down the stretch.
Bounce-back start for Cam Schlittler
As the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers arrive Tuesday for a three-game set at Yankee Stadium, Cam Schlittler is scheduled to start Thursday’s finale.
After posting a 1.26 ERA over his previous five starts, the Yankees’ hard-throwing rookie right-hander did not get out of Friday’s second inning versus Toronto, yielding four runs.
“It’s frustrating…we’re playing a division rival, you can’t go 1.2 innings,’’ Schlittler told reporters after a 40-pitch inning was his downfall against a Blue Jays lineup expert at putting the ball in play.
Per MLB.com, 24 of Schlittler’s 66 pitches were fouled off by Toronto hitters.
This is Schlittler’s 11th MLB start, and how he adjusts to teams (who now have a better book on him) will be something to watch down the stretch.
Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park
This weekend, the Yankees wrap up a Defining Dozen games versus current AL division leaders and playoff teams (they’re 4-2 so far) with three games at Fenway Park.
As you might’ve heard, the Yanks are just 2-8 against Boston this year, but Boone’s club held a 1.5-game advantage on Boston for the top AL wild card spot entering Tuesday.
And if these two teams are destined to play in a wild card series, it’s best that the Yankees maintain this edge and avoid a return trip to Fenway.
Rotation-wise, the Yankees line up to send Luis Gil, Max Fried and Will Warren against the Red Sox.
After Sunday night’s series finale, the Yankees’ remaining schedule gets a lot easier on paper, with series at Minnesota and Baltimore, and home series against the White Sox and Orioles.