The Clock Is Ticking For the New York Yankees

While the Yankees wait for Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger to return from their respective injuries, the team's depleted lineup is struggling to score runs. In fact, since the trade deadline a couple of weeks ago, the Yankees are 6-5, falling slightly farther behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. For the time being, the Red Sox, who were tied in the loss column with New York for the top Wild Card spot in the American League just a few days ago, have cooled off. Making the playoffs most likely isn't the issue. But with three important pieces of their offense on the shelf until at least the beginning of September (and let's face it, Judge might be a couple of weeks beyond that, if he comes back at all this year), the odds of making a deep run in October get worse each day. And it most certainly doesn't help that pitcher Max Fried is injured again with a bone bruise in his left elbow. Also up for discussion this week - Tommy John's chances at the Hall of Fame, and an update on Anthony Volpe.