About Last Afternoon: Yankees 4, Braves 2
- Tamar Chalker
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
About Last Afternoon: Yankees 4, Braves 2
By Tamar Chalker
July 21, 2025
***
The Yankees were able to build on their Saturday late-inning, come-from-behind win with another solid victory on Sunday afternoon. Taking on the Braves in Atlanta, Marcus Stroman put up a good start, while Judge and Stanton drove the Yankees to another win. The 4-2 victory puts the Yankees at 55-44 as they continue to sit three games behind Toronto in the AL East.
Quick Stats - Marcus Stroman - Going six innings, the Yankees starter gave up just one run on five hits and no walks. He struck out four.
Grant Holmes - The Braves starter took the loss, going six innings and giving up three runs on seven hits, two walks and two Ks.
Aaron Judge - The Yankee Captain went 1-4 with two runs scored, a homer, a walk, and two Ks. It was his 351st home run.
Player of the Game - Marcus Stroman gave the Yankees a strong start, leading to them and him getting the win. At this point, any Yankees starter who can go at least six innings and put them in position for the win is - in my mind - the difference maker, and Marcus Stroman fit the bill on Sunday.
Notable Performance - Giancarlo Stanton went 3-5 with a run scored. \\
Better to Forget - Jasson Dominguez and Cody Bellinger both went 0-5 at the plate.
My Take - I loved seeing the Yankees build on their late-inning win Saturday. They took an early lead on Sunday and held onto it. While it wasn't a perfect game by any means, I think there were some great things to take away from it.
I remember early in Spring Training, a lot of discussion about the Yankees looking to trade Marcus Stroman. Considering the way, in my opinion, that Aaron Boone mismanages pitching, I wasn't sure that was a good idea. I figured there was a good chance the Yankees would need a solid arm and sure enough, Cole went down and Stroman has been a key part of the Yankees' success this year. There is always room for improvement, but he has come up big for them and this was a good win for them.
Jorbit Vivas is not a player that the Yankees are going to put out right now looking for offensive production, but he had a great defensive play in foul territory and went 1-3, which is nothing to sleep on.
Jazz Chisholm continues to be a consistent part of the Yankee lineup. He went 2-4 and had a RBI double that gave the Yankees some breathing room. I feel like he is one of those players who isn't necessarily putting up big numbers, but has a way of finding big hits and key defensive plays that make a difference. I also just love his energy and feel like, while he may not be your quintessential "Yankee," he adds a lot of intangibles to this team that can make a difference in the long run.
Next Up - The Yankees head up north to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays on Monday night. With the Blue Jays ahead by a handful of games in the AL East, this could prove to be a pivotal series as we get deeper into the second half. Carlos Rodón will take the ball for the Yankees. He is 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA and 135 strikeouts. Toronto is sending Kevin Gausman, who has a 6-7 record with a 4.19 ERA over nineteen games. He has 104 strikeouts, and opposing batters are hitting .228 off the veteran righty. First pitch is at 7:07 pm.
dont know where else to add this. from time to time, or a little more than time to time, we get comments about Judge not being a clutch player.
check out WPA and run expectancy
he is in first place by a MILE
Jazz Chisholm is not putting up "big numbers"??? He's slashing .249/.343/.502/.845 good for 132 OPS+. Here's a list of 2025 Yankees with a better OPS:
Aaron Judge
Giancarlo Stanton
That's it. (Honorable Mention to Trent Grisham, 131 OPS+.)
Another list: MLB Second Basemen* with a better OPS:
Ketel Marte (.961)
That's it.
When you have the best OPS at your position in the League, and second-best in the Majors, I'd say you were putting up big numbers.
*Anyone who wants to argue that Jazz only became a second baseman recently this year should note that among MLB third basemen, he's fifth in OPS, ahead of . . . wait for it . . . Manny Machado.
Stroman pitched a good game, probably his best, perhaps as good as he is capable of pitching at this point of his career.
he is not a guy who stacks strikeouts and he has been a guy who allows walks.
yesterday he allowed NO walks AND he got guys to swing and miss
usually, the strike calls he earns are proportionally comprised more of the "just looking" variety.
he was not only good, but he was good enough to be sent out for a sixth inning.
that was also unusual.
his team asked much and he gave them his best
and it was good.
Marcus Stroman is now healthy.
I think the bigger conversation must be had now about the Yankees Medical Group. This is not only a 2025 problem, nor even just a 2024 issue either. It goes back easily documented to to 2017, and I can go back to 2011 with how they handled the diagnosis of pitching process Manny Banuelos. It's about it all aspects - diagnosis, rehab plans, following their plans to the T but not using their brains with what they are seeing.
For 5 years, they couldn't get Luis Severino healthy. Ever since he left, he IS healthy.
Clint Frazier suffered for years after his 2018 Spring Training concussion, could never seem to get right. He left, h…