Yankees' Early Takeaways of 2023 MLB Season

The New York Yankees have spent much of the 2023 season around the .500 mark, and in the stacked American League East, that has them at the bottom.

The injury bug has been a major issue for both the starting lineup and starting rotation, and the offense in general has struggled to find anything resembling consistency. On a positive note, the bullpen has been a major strength thanks to unexpected contributors and has taken pressure off the banged-up starting staff.

There is still a lot of season to be played, but with six weeks gone, now is the perfect time to dig in to some of the team's biggest early takeaways.

The Offense Is Mediocre at Best

Ron Schwane/Getty Images

Giancarlo Stanton

The Yankees have been limited to three or fewer runs 17 times through their first 38 games, and their 4.2 runs per game ranked 23rd in the majors entering Wednesday.

Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu are the only regulars with an OPS+ over 100, though the return of Harrison Bader (12-for-28, 3 HR) and arrival of Jake Bauers (2-for-13, 2 HR) have provided in-house boosts.

Giancarlo Stanton had a 132 OPS+ with four home runs and 11 RBI in 13 games, albeit with a .296 on-base percentage, but he has been sidelined since April 16 with a hamstring injury.

Young shortstops Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza (who is on the injured list with a sprained right ankle) are off to slow starts, Jose Trevino is a defensive-minded catcher, and the two outfield spots alongside Judge have provided next to nothing in the way of offensive production.

There's no easy fix considering all the money the team has tied up in its veteran core, so it will likely be up to this group to turn things around.

A Largely Unheralded Bullpen Is Thriving

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Ian Hamilton

The offense has struggled and the starting rotation has had to piece things together with Carlos Rodón, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas sidelined since the season started, but the bullpen has been a strength.

The Yankees relief corps led the majors with a 2.71 ERA entering Wednesday, and while sinkerballer Clay Holmes is back in the closer's role and 2022 standout Michael King is one of his primary setup options, the arms around them are largely unheralded newcomers and under-the-radar contributors.

• Wandy Peralta: 16 G, 3 HLD, 2.03 ERA, 9.5 K/9
• Ron Marinaccio: 14 G, 3 HLD, 1.65 ERA, 12.1 K/9
• Ian Hamilton: 13 G, 1 SV, 1 HLD, 1.35 ERA, 11.3 K/9
• Jimmy Cordero: 14 G, 1 HLD, 3.14 ERA, 9.4 K/9

Those four have been instrumental in the bullpen's early success.

Injuries Are a Major Issue Once Again

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Aaron Judge

It's easy to blame the lackluster start on injuries, but the Yankees have a legitimate case in that department.

The absences of Rodón, Severino and Montas have undercut what was expected to be one of the best starting rotations in baseball.

Bader missed the first 30 games with a strained left oblique, Stanton has a strained left hamstring, Josh Donaldson played only five games before he suffered a hamstring injury of his own, and a hip injury cost Judge 10 games before his return Tuesday.

That's a lot of missed time by players who were expected to be critical to the team's success, and it has put the organization's depth to the test.

---

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.