New York Yankees: 5 Stars Who Need to Step Up ASAP Before It's Too Late

The New York Yankees saw their timetable for contention expedited this season with a strong first half, and they're in prime position to at least claim a wild-card spot.

With a 63-54 record, they sit 4.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East and hold the No. 1 wild-card slot with a three-game cushion at their disposal.

It's a good position to be in, but there is still some cause for concernnamely a handful of underperforming stars.

Let's take a closer look at five star players who need to step up before it's too late.

Brett Gardner

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Key Stats

First Half: 363 PA, .256 BA, .800 OPS, 15 2B, 15 HR, 40 RBI

Second Half: 141 PA, .231 BA, .708 OPS, 3 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI 

Overview

Brett Gardner looked to be on his way to a career year offensively when he slugged 15 doubles and 15 home runs in the first half of 2017.

While he has established a new career high with 19 homers, his production has slowed considerably since the All-Star break—particularly in the power department, as his OPS has dipped nearly 100 points.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post offered up his thoughts on why Gardner has cooled off:

"Brett Gardner's durability and strong first four months worked against him.

"While other options such as Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier and Dustin Fowler were injured and Jacoby Ellsbury struggled, Gardner supplied unexpected power – particularly clutch power – and always excellent on-base skills and defense.

"But that volume of play has led to a familiar problem for the all-out Gardner – his performance dimming later in a season, likely because of fatigue and/or playing through aches and pains. The numbers don't lie. Gardner has a .774 OPS in the first half and .685 in the second for his career."

One way or another, the Yankees need Gardner setting the table out of the lead-off spot in the lineup.

Luis Severino

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

Key Stats

First 22 Starts: 9-4, 2.91 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 162 K, 139.1 IP, .216 BAA

Most Recent Start: L, 4.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Overview

Luis Severino pitched to a 5.83 ERA last season while splitting his time between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He also spent time in the minors and was far from a lock to hold down a rotation spot heading into 2017.

Still, with his significant upside, he was a clear X-factor for a Yankees team with plenty of question marks in the starting rotation, and he's delivered on his potential with an All-Star season.

Then his breakout season hit a massive bump in the road against the rival Boston Red Sox.

The 23-year-old was touched up for eight hits and 10 runs (eight earned) over 4.1 innings, raising his season ERA from 2.91 to 3.32.

"He wasn't executing his pitches today and made some mistakes," manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "He’d been so good and executing so well. We haven't seen it for a while, but it just shows that he's human."

It's just one bad start, so there is no reason to push the panic button quite yet. Another rocky outing against the New York Mets on Thursday would be another story, though.

Aroldis Chapman

Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press

Key Stats

First 34 Games: 31.1 IP, 2.87 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .225 BAA

Past 3 Games: 3.1 IP, 13.50 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, .273 BAA

Overview

Things have not gone as swimmingly for Aroldis Chapman in his second go-around with the Yankees after he signed a five-year, $86 million deal in free agency—a new record for a reliever.

The 29-year-old missed time in May with rotator cuff inflammation, and he's never quite been his usual dominant self since, blowing four saves in 20 chances and pitching to an ERA well north of his 2.08 career mark.

His season has gone properly off the tracks since Friday, though:

• Aug. 11: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Aug. 13: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Aug. 15: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

"It's been a difficult year for me and for my expectations," Chapman told reporters. "I'm going through a rough patch here, but you've got to keep fighting. You've got to keep trying to go out there and do your job."

The Yankees have one of the deepest bullpens in baseball after adding David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle at the deadline to a relief corps that already included standouts Dellin Betances, Chad Green and Adam Warren.

With that in mind, moving Chapman out of the closer's role—at least temporarily—is something the team may have to consider. He sounded open to the idea.

"I'm here to pitch," Chapman said. "As far as where I pitch, that's not up to me. If at some point they need to remove me from the closer position, I'm always going to be ready and willing to pitch here."

That's all fine and good, but the Yankees are a better team when Chapman is pitching at his usual All-World level.

Masahiro Tanaka

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Key Stats

First 14 Starts: 5-7, 6.34 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 76 K, 76.2 IP, .293 BAA

Past 9 Starts: 3-3, 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 65 K, 57.0 IP, .214 BAA

Overview

Unlike the other four players on this list, Masahiro Tanaka has seen his production trend in a positive direction.

The trouble is he's watching from the sidelines.

Tanaka was placed on the 10-day DL on Saturday with shoulder inflammation a few days after a shaky outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, during which he lasted just four innings and walked a season-high five batters.

On a positive note, it doesn't sound like it will be a prolonged stay on the disabled list.

Matthew Martell of the MLB website wrote: "There is no structural damage, according to manager Joe Girardi, and Tanaka isn't expected to miss too much time. Instead, the injury was something that Tanaka said 'gradually built up,' and was caused more by fatigue than a specific incident."

Still, with CC Sabathia also landing on the disabled list recently and Michael Pineda already out for the season, the Yankees can't afford any setbacks from Tanaka.

Starting pitching has been the big question mark all season, and a healthy Tanaka will be crucial for the stretch run.

Aaron Judge

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Key Stats

First Half: 366 PA, .329 BA, 1.139 OPS, 30 HR, 66 RBI, 29.8 K%

Second Half: 131 PA, .175 BA, .712 OPS, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 37.4 K%

Overview

Aaron Judge has been one of baseball's biggest stories this year, and he's on pace for 49 home runs, which would tie the single-season rookie record.

However, he's also on pace for 217 strikeouts, which would check-in as the fourth-highest total in MLB history.

After striking out a passable 29.8 percent of the time during the first half, he's seen that mark spike to 37.4 percent in the second half and 41.1 percent in August.

To put it simply, the league has adjusted to the 25-year-old star.

Now it's his turn to adjust, and it starts with a more patient approach. It's easy for a young player to go from slumping to pressing to developing bad habits.

"We're trying to get him back on track," Girardi told reporters. "It's been a struggle. There's no doubt about it, the second half."

His impact on the lineup can't be understated, and righting the ship would go a long way toward punching that ticket to October.

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs and accurate through Tuesday's games.