Pennant and wildcard races in Major League Baseball continue to be tight as the regular season has 46 more days remaining including today’s slate of games. Out of baseball’s six divisions, only the National League’s Philadelphia Phillies in the East (seven-game lead) and the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central (7.5) held more than a 3 1/2 game first place advantage. In the American League East, the 70-50 Yankees were a half game behind the 70-49 Baltimore Orioles at the start of Tuesday’s schedule. The Mets were 61-57 and trying to recover from being swept in a three-game series this past weekend by the Seattle Mariners out West.
The Yankees were hammered on Monday night 12-2 in Chicago by the White Sox, who have the worst record in MLB at an ignominious 29-91 after the win. The defeat was the Yankees fourth in their last seven games. They completed their three-game series against the White Sox yesterday (Wednesday) and begin a three-game set versus the Tigers in Detroit tomorrow.
The Yankees lineup has been infused with a much needed impactful bat as designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was activated from the injured list on July 29 after being out five weeks with a strained left hamstring, which he injured on June 22 running the bases. Before his season was interrupted, in 69 games played, Stanton was hitting .245 with 18 homers.
On Sunday, in a 8-7 win versus the Rangers, batting fourth in the clean-up spot behind Aaron Judge, who has been increasingly intentionally walked by opposing managers, Stanton crushed a a three-run home run in the fifth after Judge was given a free-pass by the Rangers, his sixth over a span of their last eight games. On the day Stanton knocked in four runs. It was just his second home run since coming back from the injured list, the first coming on Saturday in a 9-4 loss.
“I get on base and hopefully the guys behind me do their thing and today it worked out,” said Judge, who going into Tuesday’s game led MLB with 42 home runs. Additionally, he was first in RBI with 107, second in batting average at .329 and first in walks with 99. The 32-year-old Judge is well on his way to capturing his second AL MVP after winning the award in 2022. His teammate Juan Soto is one of top challengers for the honor.
Soto, batting in the No. 2 hole in the lineup, was hitting .302 (ninth), tied for sixth in home runs (30), was ninth with 82 RBI and second in walks at 98.
The Mets began their game Tuesday at Citi Field in Queens against the Oakland A’s one game behind the Atlanta Braves (62-56) for second place in the NL East and one behind them in the race for the third and final NL wildcard spot. The three-game series ends on Thursday and the Mets will host the Miami Marlins for four games tomorrow through Monday.