Struggling New York Yankees Lose Bid for Wild Card Spot
The Los Angeles Angels recently defeated the visiting New York Yankees, causing the Yankees to fall 3.5 games behind in the AL wild card race. The Yankees have been struggling since the commencement of the second half of the season, suffering a poor record of 1-5. They also lost their series against the Colorado Rockies, who had the support of the majority of the crowd at Coors Field.
The Yankees (50-47) now occupy the last spot in the AL East, following their disappointing performance in the western swing that also included two extra-inning losses.
Manager Aaron Boone criticized their team, admitting, "We stink right now." In the past, the business-minded George Steinbrenner, who ran the Yankees, might have dismissed Boone for their continued poor performance and then possibly hired and fired him again.
Meanwhile, the Angels have been the center of numerous trade rumors, with the trading deadline approaching. The Yankees are one of many teams vying for the two-way enigma Shohei Ohtani, arguably the favorite to capture this year's AL MVP award and the current homerun leader. Ohtani's powerful bat and pitching prowess could potentially revive the sluggish Yankee offense. However, even the exceptional Ohtani might not have the capacity to save the Yankees and salvage their season.
Yankees Lose Hitting Coach, Slump Continues
The Yankees found themselves in a favorable position in May with a 41-30 record and a third-place standing in the AL East. However, their fortunes took a turn for the worse starting in June when Aaron Judge, last year's MVP, sustained an injury to his toe. The Yankees suffered through June, posting a subpar 11-12 record.
Their troubles persisted in July, as they entered the month with a lackluster 4-6 record. The Yankees also lost four out of five games during the All-Star break. Over their last ten games, the dismal Yankees have managed a meager 2-8 win-loss record.
In an attempt to change things up, the Yankees dismissed hitting coach Dillon Lawson before the All-Star break. Brian Cashman, the team's general manager, brought in former player and MLB Network analyst Sean Casey as his replacement.
Cashman stated, "I don't make these decisions lightly. I felt, as we move forward, we're in a sprint in the second half. Our offense has struggled tremendously, more so than I can remember. The team that we have, in fairness to Dillon, we've had some injuries, but collectively, we've struggled a lot. I thought, in fairness to him and us, it was necessary to make a change."
In spite of the change, the Yankees managed to win only one game since the All-Star break.
The Yankees' games boast a measly .231 team batting average, making them the second-lowest-scoring team in the majors. The Oakland A's, with a ghastly .230 average, are the only team worse. The A's, unfortunately, hold the league's worst record at 27-71.
Futures Nosedive, Might Be a Good Time to Buy?
If you believe that the Yankees can rebound, you may have the chance to back them at a pretty low point.
In spring training, the Yankees were given +750 odds to win the 2023 World Series and were among the top two contenders alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers. After the Fourth of July holiday, the Yankees' odds to win the World Series tanked to +1200.
Following their recent loss to the Angels and their defeat at the hands of the Rockies, the Yankees' odds plummeted to +2500. The Yankees slid to the 12th spot on DraftKings' MLB futures board.
The Yankees' odds for winning the AL pennant have also plummeted to +1300, compared to their initial preseason odds of +310. The last-place Yankees are now long shots at +2500 to win the AL East.
DraftKings provides a popular prop bet on whether the Yankees will make or miss the postseason. The Yankees currently have a 1.9 game deficit in the AL wild card race, and are now the underdogs at +150 odds to make it to the playoffs. You can bet against them with -180 odds to fail to qualify.
According to the most current projection from FanGraphs, the Yankees have a slim 30.4% chance to make the playoffs, with a 28.6% chance of clinching the wild card spot and a humble 1.8% chance of capturing the division title. The Yankees possess a meagre 1.9% chance of winning the World Series.
Upcoming Matches: Slump Buster, Subway Series
The Yankees will return home to the Bronx to face the feeble Kansas City Royals, who own a dismal 28-69 record. They may be the "slump buster" the Yanks need to get back on track.
Next, the Yankees will face their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, for a two-game Subway Series. The Mets have also displayed disappointment this season but have recently won three games straight. The Mets are on the rise while the Yankees struggle on their downward path.
The Yankees have a challenging schedule ahead, with ten consecutive games against potential playoff teams. This could be a make-or-break moment for the Yankees and their season.
The Yankees set out on a three-game series against the hot Baltimore Orioles (58-37). Afterwards, they'll have a seven-game homestand lined up with three matches against the powerful Tampa Bay Rays (60-39) followed by a four-game set against the reigning champions, the Houston Astros (53-43).
To add to their misery, Josh Donaldson re-aggravated his calf injury and had to go back to the IL for a second time this season. Last year's home run leader, Aaron Judge, is out indefinitely due to an injury to his big toe received during a wall collision at Dodger Stadium in June. The Yankees have been struggling without their injured captain and their main home run threat.
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Source: www.casino.org
