The New York Yankees are playing great baseball and it isn’t due to the offense. Remember the offseason when everyone was saying that the Yanees are too banged up on the mound and need another arm? Same.
Instead of that being the case, the Yankees have done nothing but get outs at a ridiculously high level. They have also made some history along the way.
“Overall, the Yankees have permitted just three runs this season -- tied with the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals for the fewest by a team through its first five games. It was the Yankees’ third shutout in their first five games, matching a feat previously achieved by the 2002 Bombers. They’re the fifth team to do it since 2000, also joining the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers, '15 Oakland Athletics and '16 Dodgers,” Bryan Hoch of MLB.com wrote.
The Yankees' starting rotation has just been ridiculous, but it’s really been a team effort. The bullpen is doing its job, the defense is doing its, and everything has just gone well.
“Everyone has contributed,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Max has gone into the seventh or completed the seventh in back-to-back ones. Everyone else from the starting rotation has gone out and held them down, and then the bullpen has been excellent.”
We could look at a few reasons as to why the Yankees have done this early on, but as Hoch mentioned, they’re literally one of two teams to ever do this, so it’s not like it’s happened much. I could say that it’s early and hitters are at a disadvantage, but every team in the league can say that right now and in the past.
Offensively, New York hasn’t been terrible but it will have to improve in order to be what it wants to be this season. The pitching can carry this team for a long time, so if the offense gets going, too, it will be scary to think about how good this team can be.
“They’ve made it easier on us, for sure. It’s a much easier at-bat when the other team has zero runs,” Giancarlo Stanton said.