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Yankees On Deck: 'We've got to be unbelievable' Aaron Boone says about rest of season

pete caldera, northjersey.com
·4 min read
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NEW YORK - This past Sunday marked the first anniversary of Aaron Boone’s podium-pounding statement about a first-place Yankees team that had lost 14 of its last 17 games.

“We’ve got to play better, and the great thing is’’ – BOOM! – “it’s right in front of us.’’

That club held on to win the AL East and advance to the AL Championship Series.

One year later, in the same conference room at Yankee Stadium, speaking about his last-place team in an eight-game slide, the manager mostly spoke evenly about the “big hole’’ his team was in.

Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) in the dugout before the start of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.
Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) in the dugout before the start of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.

“We’ve got to be unbelievable the rest of the way,’’ said Boone, in Sunday’s most animated postgame moment.

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After being swept by the Boston Red Sox, nine games out of a wild-card spot with 38 games left, “it’s about trying to win a game Tuesday,’’ said Boone.

“And then, all of a sudden, you’re stacking (wins) and an amazing thing happens. But we’re so far removed from that right now, we’ve got to get a win, first.’’

At least the MLB schedule cuts the Yankees (60-64) a break, sending the last-place Washington Nationals (57-68) to Yankee Stadium to open a three-game series.

Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) talks with medical staff and manager Aaron Boone (17) after an injury during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 6, 2023.
Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) talks with medical staff and manager Aaron Boone (17) after an injury during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 6, 2023.

Yankees vs. Nationals time, TV, pitching matchups

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., YES: RHP Josiah Gray (7-10, 3.96) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (1-4, 7.33).

Wednesday, 7:05 p.m., YES: LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.38) vs. RHP Luis Severino (2-8, 7.98).

Thursday, 1:05 p.m., YES: LHP Patrick Corbin (8-11, 4.71) vs. RHP Jhony Brito (4-6, 5.43).

Bottom line: Rodon is making just his seventh start of the season, his first since landing back on the injured list - this time due to a strained left hamstring, costing him two starts.

Due to back issues, a forearm strain in spring training and general ineffectiveness, it's been a rough inaugural Bronx campaign for the lefty who signed to a six-year, $162 million free-agent deal.

Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) reacts during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.
Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) reacts during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.

And it's been downright brutal for Severino, somehow clinging to a rotation spot in his free-agent walk year.

Boone extolled the positives from Severino's last outing, when the right-hander (who sounded more encouraged) showed a livelier fastball during a four-inning start in Atlanta.

Yet, Severino still gave up five runs, yielded two homers and saw his opening-inning ERA jump to 36.00 over his last four outings.

Thursday could be a bullpen game. The Yankees have not listed a starter, but it would be Brito's turn, following a rough outing last Friday against Boston (2.1 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER).

Remember when the Yankees pursued, and failed, to sign Corbin as a free agent?

Since then, the lefty has posted a 39-60 record with a 4.90 ERA as a National, but he does have a World Series ring from his solid 2019 season.

Anthony Rizzo injury update

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo holds onto his bat as he runs towards first base after he flied out to center, during the eighth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, June 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo holds onto his bat as he runs towards first base after he flied out to center, during the eighth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, June 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Recently cleared to resume hitting in the batting cages, Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion symptoms) reported he was encouraged by his progress.

But there's still no timetable for Rizzo's activation from the IL. He's been sidelined since Aug. 3, though his symptoms date to a May 28 collision at Yankee Stadium.

Slumps for Giancarlo Stanton and Jake Bauers

Benched Sunday, Giancarlo Stanton is in a 1-for-17 skid with nine strikeouts. Jake Bauers is 0-for-20 with 13 strikeouts since Aug. 12.

When was last time Yankees had this kind of losing streak?

This is their longest losing skid since Aug. 19-26, 1995. That team, managed by Buck Showalter, managed to win 26 of their final 33 games to claim a wild card spot.

The last time these Yankees had a lead? It was the second inning, Aug. 14, in Atlanta. That was 52 innings ago.

Anthony Volpe brings good news

On the bright side, Anthony Volpe - who delivered a big-at-the-time, game-tying homer in Sunday's seventh inning - is in his most productive stretch.

In his last 17 games, the rookie shortstop has posted a .929 OPS with four home runs and 14 RBI.

Coming attractions: Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow attempts to pick off New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe at first base during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 31, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow attempts to pick off New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe at first base during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 31, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

In Saturday's 18-4 win at Anaheim in the second game of a doubleheader, the Rays scored one fewer run than the Yankees have tallied in their last seven games.

Despite numerous key starting pitching injuries, the latest to All-Star lefty Shane McLanahan (Tommy John surgery), the Rays are securely in the AL's top wild-card spot, and were three games behind AL East-leading Baltimore entering Monday.

Tampa Bay, which has won six of 10 games against the Yankees this year, has also won six of its last seven series. The Yankees are 1-10-3 in their last 14 series, with their only series win coming against Kansas City.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Boone talks Yankees losing streak with Nationals next on schedule