I don't know what's more shocking: How many bad things -- injuries, COVID contractions, bad transactions, bullpen meltdowns, phony strike calls by umpires, and so on -- have happened to the Yankees this season, or the fact that they're still very much in business as far as qualifying for the postseason is concerned.
Nestor Cortes started the finale of their series with the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, and he was fantastic. He pitched 5 shutout innings, before allowing a home run by Andrew Vaughn in the bottom of the 6th.
Luke Voit led off the top of the 2nd with a single, and Rougned Odor hit a home run. Kyle Higashioka and Tyler Wade struck out, but DJ LeMahieu singled, and Brett Gardner doubled him home. It was 3-0 Yankees, and remained so until the Vaughn homer.
Stephen Ridings pitched a scoreless 7th. Jonathan Loaisiga pitched a perfect 8th. But a feeling came over Yankee Fans (if Twitter is any guide) that Loaisiga would not also pitch the 9th inning, meaning somebody we trust considerably less would. So we needed insurance runs. We got them when Giancarlo Stanton led off the top of the 9th with a double, and Voit hit a home run, making it 5-1.
Sure enough, Aaron Boone sent Lucas Luetge out to start the bottom of the 9th, and, well, Cliche Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. He walked Yoan Moncada.
Yankees 5, White Sox 3. WP: Cortes (1-1). SV: Peralta (4). LP: Lucas Giolito (9-9).
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As I've said before: A good team should be able to gain at least 1 game a week, so if you have fewer games behind than weeks left, you have a chance. There are 7 weeks left in the regular season -- in the Yankees' case, 45 games -- and they are 5 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Eastern Division. They are 2 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the AL's 2nd Wild Card slot. In the all-important loss column, they are 5 behind the Rays, and 2 behind the A's.
And they are getting healthier. Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Gary Sanchez and Anthony Rizzo are coming off the COVID list. Cole starts tonight, in a rainout makeup against the Los Angeles Angels. Then the hated Boston Red Sox come to down, with a doubleheader on Tuesday (including another rainout makeup), and Montgomery will start one of the games.
Rizzo will resume baseball activity today, although it's not clear when he will play again. Domingo German will throw a bullpen session today, and be evaluated thereafter. Sanchez may be activated on Tuesday, after Higashioka performed yeoman duty as the catcher. Aroldis Chapman will soon be making a rehab appearance. Miguel Andujar has been working with the Class AA Somerset Patriots. Corey Kluber started for the Patriots on Thursday, meaning he could make another rehab start tomorrow, meaning he could be back in Pinstripes next week.
It's not all good news. Clint Frazier, who had played for the Patriots, has been transferred to the 60-Day Injured List, due to complications with his head injury. It is now unlikely he will play again this season. Luis Severino is getting an MRI today. Hopefully, it won't be any worse than a minor setback. It's not clear when Gio Urshela and Clay Holmes will return from injury. And I would be surprised if Gleyber Torres returned before the end of August.
There are 6 games left against the Red Sox, 3 at home this week, and 3 at Fenway Park in late September. And there are 3 games left against the Rays, the last 3 games of the regular season, at home. And the Sox and Rays play each other 7 times, 4 in St. Petersburg, 3 in Fenway. Those 16 games, 9 that the Yankees play in, are where the AL East is going to be decided.
And the Yankees are still giving themselves a chance, in spite of everything.
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Days until the next Yankees series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 1, tomorrow afternoon, at Yankee Stadium II.
Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 3, on Wednesday night, at 7:00 PM, home to the defending MLS Champion Columbus Crew.
Days until the Red Bulls again play a nearby rival: 5, on Saturday night, August 21, against New York City FC, at Red Bull Arena.
Days until the next Arsenal game: 6, on Sunday, 11:30 AM U.S. Eastern Time, home to defending Champions League winners Chelsea. After the Premier League opening disaster against newly-promoted Brentford, no one is optimistic. And with the next League game being away to defending PL Champions Manchester City, the Yankees could have no points after 3 games.
Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 17, on Thursday, September 2, at 6:30 PM, home to Temple University.
Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: 17, on Thursday, September 2, at 10:00 PM Eastern Time, against El Salvador, in their national capital of San Salvador. It will bet he USMNT's 1st game since winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup. See, England? That's how you win a continental tournament final on home soil.
Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: 18, on Friday, September 3, at 7:00 PM, home to arch-rival Old Bridge.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: See the previous answer.
Days until the next North London Derby: 41, on Sunday, September 26, at 11:30 AM, at the Emirates Stadium. TV programming moved the game from the day before. Under 6 weeks.
Days until the New Jersey Devils play another regular-season game: 60, on Friday, October 15, home to the Chicago Blackhawks. Under 2 months.
Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: 73, on Thursday, October 28, home to the New York Rangers.
Days until the next election for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 78, on Tuesday, November 2. A little over 11 weeks.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 96, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 20, at 12:00 noon, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. A little over 3 months.
Days until the 1st Baseball Hall of Fame election for which Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz will be eligible, and we will know for sure whether steroid use keeps a player out, or if it's only perception that does: 162, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. A little over 5 months.
Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Beijing, China: 172, on Friday, February 4, 2022. Under 7 months.
Days until the next elections for Congress and for Governor of most States, including New York and Pennsylvania: 449, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Under a year and a half, or under 15 months.
Days until the next World Cup opens: 462, on Friday, November 21, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Under a year and a half, or a little over 15 months.
Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 699, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. A little under 2 years, or a little under 23 months.
Days until the next Summer Olympic Games: 1,075, on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France.
Days until the next Presidential election: 1,177, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 3 1/2 years, or under 39 months.
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