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The 2021 Yankees love nothing more than dumping a bucket of cold water on their fans whenever they even think about breathing easily. Win 13 in a row to rush to the front of the Wild Card race? Lose 12 of the next 15 games to make it competitive again. Show signs of life with mini-three-game winning streak after that stretch? Lose in humiliating fashion to the terrible Orioles (again). Finally post an easy blowout win? Follow it up getting blown out themselves in an ugly, ugly game.
Once more, the Yankees are on the outside looking in, as both the Red Sox and Blue Jays beat their lowly opponents yesterday. Boston’s a game and a half up on New York, and Toronto holds that half-game advantage. The Yankees at least have Gerrit Cole going today against Cleveland, but it won’t mean much if the offense matches yesterday’s performance of “absolute bupkis until the game was well out of hand.” Win the damn game.
Today on the site, Estevão revisits the Luis Cessa trade and Matt looks back on the biggest WPA swings in Yankees history that came from players who barely appeared in the game. Joe will then have the weekly social media spotlight, and after the matinee, Estevão will return with the weekly playoff picture update.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Cleveland
Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: WPIX, Bally Sports Great Lakes
Radio: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Fun Questions:
1. Which Yankees do we see today — the Dr. Jekyll Bombers of Friday or the Mr. Hyde Bummers of Saturday?
2. The Phillies have suddenly surged to within a game of the Braves in the NL East; do they end up winning that wacky division? Or will Atlanta persevere?