About Yesterday: The Yankees Bushwhacked the Rangers 1-0.

About Yesterday: The Yankees Bushwhacked the Rangers 1-0

By Tim Kabel

May 23, 2025

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Yesterday, the Yankees shut the Rangers out 1-0 and swept the series on the strength of Carlos Rodon’s excellent pitching and the first Major League home run of Jorbit Vivas’ career. The Yankees went 5-1 on this homestand and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Tonight, the Yankees begin a nine game West Coast road trip to close out the month of May.

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Quick Stats – 

·       Aaron Judge’s batting average has dipped below 400. It now stands at .396. I'm sure someone, somewhere, is worried.

·       Jasson Dominguez is the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a game, homer from both sides of the plate in a game, hit a Grand Slam, and hit a walk-off home run, all in the same month. I'm sure there are still people who suspect that he's not fully ready. 

·       The Yankees joined the Detroit Tigers as the second American League team to reach 30 victories this season.

·       Carlos Rodon has allowed two hits or fewer in four of his 11 starts this season. 

·       On May 22nd, 1933, Joe Sewell struck out for the first time that season. The Yankees beat the Indians 3-0 that day. Sewell went on to strike out only three times in 524 at bats that season. Most players do that in a week these days. Some do it in a game.

Big Story – 

The Yankees are in first place in the American League East, leading the Blue Jays by five games. The Red Sox are in third place, six games out. Somewhat surprisingly, the Orioles are in last place with sixteen wins. They are worse than every team in the American League except the woeful Chicago White Sox. The Yankees now have a nine-game road trip during which they will play the Rockies, Angels, and Dodgers. The Rockies are the worst team in baseball and have not yet reached double digits in wins. I know it's difficult to sweep a series but that should be the Yankees’ goal going into Colorado this weekend. The Angels, as usual, are not very good either. Naturally, the Dodgers are in first place in the National League West. That is not a surprise, considering they have acquired virtually every player available. Regular season games don't mean anything in the playoffs or World Series, but it would be nice. to see the Yankees flog the Dodgers next weekend. This road trip could be very important for the long-term success of the Yankees since they have the opportunity to have a winning trip. In the recent past, they did not always win the games they should have. They definitely need to do that on this trip.

Player of the Game – 

Carlos Rodon pitched six innings of shutout ball, striking out eight. He lowered his ERA for the season to 2.88.

Notable Performances – 

Jorbit Vivas hit his first Major League home run.

Devin Williams pitched another scoreless 8th inning.

Better To Forget-

JC Escarra has two hits in the month of May, both of them coming in the same game on May 9th. His batting average for the season is now .175.  The Yankees may have to consider an upgrade at backup catcher as we get closer to the trade deadline. 

My Take – 

For a while, it looked as if the Yankees had many glaring needs on their roster. The starting rotation was shaky, and it seemed as if Max Fried was about the only reliable starter. There was a major question at third base and with Jazz Chisholm, Jr. being on the IL, second base was an issue as well.

Well, the starting rotation has stabilized for the most part. In addition to Max Fried, Carlos Rodon has become extremely dependable. Clarke Schmidt seems to be rounding back into shape and Will Warren has been very good lately. Because Warren  is young, he may regress or have a setback at some point but, he really seems to have figured things out. For now, Ryan Yarbrough is more than holding his own. The Yankees may not need to focus their efforts on trading for a starting pitcher as long as Luis Gil will definitely be coming back. Having the reigning Rookie of the Year return to the rotation will be a huge upgrade.

However, third base does remain an issue. Oswald Peraza is excellent defensively but has not demonstrated that he can hit consistently. DJ LeMahieu might not have very much left in the tank. Despite his home run yesterday, Yorbit Vivas does not look as if he is the answer either. Therefore, the Yankees should concentrate their efforts on acquiring a third baseman. Depending on whom they target, they may need to sacrifice some of their top minor league talent. However, if it becomes too costly, they may be able to squeak by with what they have or acquire someone who is not a superstar. If it becomes a choice between gutting the farm system or going with Oswald Peraza and using pinch hitters when needed, well, the Yankees did win a couple of World Series with Bucky Dent at shortstop.

The rest of the team seems to be firing on all cylinders for the most part. They have several players who are contributing on a regular basis. It is not just Aaron Judge. Of course, Aaron Judge is the most important player, as he is the best player in baseball but, he does have help. I suspect that at some point, the Yankees will acquire a third baseman who will be an upgrade over what they have currently to provide even more help.

Next Up-

The Yankees will open a three-game series against the Rockies tonight at 8:40 PM at Coors Field. Chase Dollander, (2-5, 6.28 ERA) will pitch for Colorado. The Yankees will send Clarke Schmidt, (1-1, 4.41 ERA) to the mound. Dollander has 25% of the Rockies wins. Colorado is playing at a Rocky Mountain low this season. Let’s hope the Yankees chase Dollander in the first inning.