After a 1-5 week two weeks ago, the Yankees continued to struggle against division opponents last week. They split a series against the Rays and then got swept by the Red Sox at home. The club is now 31-29 and dropped to fourth place in the American League East. New York will head to Minnesota to take on the Twins before playing the Phillies this weekend.
Can Two Rest Days Help?
The Yankees had seven games last week, so fatigue may have been a factor in the poor performance. This week, the Bronx Bombers will get Monday and Friday off. Both days will be spent traveling, but they should still get some solid rest after 13 games in 13 days. The bullpen and even the starters can use this time to rest their arms and recover from the inevitable grind the MLB season brings.
Matchup Against Former Manager and Shortstop
After taking on the Twins, the Yankees will play in Philadelphia against the Phillies on Saturday and Sunday. The Phillies are managed by Joe Giradi and have Didi Gregorius at shortstop, both of which spent multiple seasons with the Yankees. An MLB season can usually bring more entertainment than just seeing a win or a loss, and watching former Yankees take on the team can make for a fun weekend.
Gio Urshela
Gio Urshela had a hit in all six games this week. Three of them were multi-hit games, and four of his nine hits went for extra-bases. Urshela is not the first Yankee to go on a hitting streak this season. However, one of the problems has been that he is one of the only guys producing offensively. Then, after he slows down, another player may step up while a lot of the other guys in the lineup remain cold. If Urshela can have another solid week, that can be a great sign of long-term success at the plate for the 29-year-old.
Featured Image Courtesy of nj.com.
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