The New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday afternoon, improving to five wins in their last six games and continuing to prove they can win even without Aaron Judge in the lineup.
After learning the reigning American League MVP would miss a significant amount of time with a first-rib stress fracture, the Yankees responded by taking all three games in Cleveland during the first leg of a six-game road trip. New York now heads to Toronto for a pivotal three-game weekend series before returning home.
The sweep was fueled by timely hitting, strong pitching and contributions throughout the lineup as several Yankees have stepped up to fill the void left by Judge.
Winning the Close Ones
The Yankees opened the series Monday night with a hard-fought 7-5 victory in 10 innings, their first extra-innings victory of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt provided an early spark with a two-run home run while Ryan McMahon added a solo shot. Cleveland eventually erased the deficit and briefly grabbed a late lead, but New York answered in the eighth inning before Cody Bellinger delivered the knockout punch with a two-run single in the 10th.
Tuesday’s matchup followed a similar script.
Spencer Jones blasted the first home run of his Major League career before Jazz Chisholm Jr. broke a late tie with a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning. The Yankees bullpen handled the rest, securing a 3-2 victory and clinching the series.
The sweep was completed Wednesday afternoon with an 8-4 win behind another balanced offensive effort. Chisholm highlighted a three-run second inning with a two-run triple while Carlos Rodón settled in after surrendering a leadoff home run to earn his second victory of his delayed-start season.
Vintage Goldschmidt Emerging
While much of the attention has centered on replacing Judge’s production, Paul Goldschmidt has quietly become one of the Yankees’ most reliable offensive forces.
The veteran first baseman has recorded multi-hit performances in four of his eight starts in June and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games dating back to May 25.
Through his first eight games this month, Goldschmidt is batting .375 with a .412 on-base percentage while consistently providing quality at-bats near the top of the lineup.
Grisham and McMahon Turning the Corner
Trent Grisham’s breakout continues.
The center fielder is batting .375 with a .444 on-base percentage in June and has recorded hits in 15 of his last 18 games.
Ryan McMahon has also completely reversed the trajectory of his season.
After enduring an 0-for-23 slump from May 10-18, McMahon has responded by batting .313 with an .853 OPS over his last 15 games. His recent surge has given the Yankees another productive left-handed bat at a time when offensive depth is more important than ever.
Bellinger and Rice Continue to Carry the Load
Few players in baseball have been as consistently impactful as Cody Bellinger this season.
Bellinger has reached base in 56 of the Yankees’ first 66 games and has recorded a hit in 48 of those contests. According to FanGraphs and Sports Info Solutions, he leads all Major Leaguers with 15 Defensive Runs Saved while also ranking tied for first in baseball with 13 go-ahead RBIs.
Whether it’s his defense, clutch hitting or overall versatility, Bellinger continues to contribute in every facet of the game.
Meanwhile, Ben Rice continues to establish himself as one of the game’s breakout stars.
The 27-year-old 1B/DH is batting .296 and owns a 1.006 OPS, the second-highest mark in Major League Baseball behind only Yordan Alvarez. His 18 home runs are tied with Hunter Goodman and James Wood for sixth-most in the majors.
Rice’s emergence has been one of the biggest reasons New York’s offense has remained productive despite injuries throughout the lineup.
Reinforcements Could Be on the Horizon
While Judge remains sidelined, the Yankees have received encouraging updates from the IL.
Giancarlo Stanton continues to make progress in his recovery from a right calf strain that has sidelined him since April 24.
According to manager Aaron Boone, Stanton has continued hitting indoors throughout his rehabilitation and is scheduled to face Yankees reliever Angel Chivilli, who is also commencing a rehab start, in live batting practice beginning Saturday. Boone indicated that Stanton remains in New York while the Yankees complete their current road trip through Cleveland and Toronto, allowing him to continue focusing on increasing his mobility and baseball activities.
Boone’s latest comments suggest Stanton could be approaching the final stages of his recovery. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported that the Yankees have discussed the possibility of Stanton bypassing a Minor League rehab assignment altogether, depending on how he responds to the upcoming increase in activity.
If Stanton continues progressing without setbacks, a return during the Yankees’ next homestand remains a possibility. New York returns to the Bronx on June 16 to open a series against the Chicago White Sox, just nine days away.
Jasson Domínguez is also nearing a return.
The switch-hitting outfielder has now made four rehab appearances and notably went 3-for-3 with a home run Tuesday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees also began experimenting with Domínguez in right field this week, a position he had played only once previously in professional baseball.
With Judge sidelined and Bellinger excelling in left field, the Yankees believe additional defensive versatility could create more lineup options.
The reports yesterday are that he was very comfortable doing it, which is good,” Boone said Wednesday. “Seems like it went off without a hitch.
Domínguez made another start in right field Wednesday night.
The Yankees also received a positive update on catcher Austin Wells, who was expected to resume baseball activities Wednesday after dealing with headaches.
Looking Ahead
The Yankees will now travel to Toronto for the final three games of their current road trip before returning to the Bronx.
Despite losing the biggest bat in their lineup, New York continues finding production throughout the roster. Between Goldschmidt’s resurgence, Grisham’s breakout, McMahon’s turnaround and the continued excellence of Bellinger and Rice, the Yankees are proving they have enough depth to weather the storm until reinforcements return.
