As the Major League Baseball regular season nears its conclusion, the New York Yankees are battling more than just their opponents—they’re fighting through a litany of injuries that have severely compromised their playoff hopes.
According to USA Today, the Yankees are one of nine teams hardest hit by injuries, turning what could have been a competitive season into a grueling battle of attrition.
Who are the top 9 contenders most affected by injuries?
The Yankees are indeed in a tough spot, but they’re not alone. Here’s a rundown of the nine MLB contenders most crushed by injuries this season, according to USA Today:
- Atlanta Braves – Hit hard by the loss of star players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider.
- Baltimore Orioles – Struggling without key pitchers like Kyle Bradish and Felix Bautista.
- Houston Astros – Missing several crucial pitchers, including Cristian Javier and José Urquidy.
- New York Yankees – Grappling with the absence of players like Jonathan Loáisiga and Clarke Schmidt.
- Los Angeles Dodgers – Young arms like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin sidelined for the season.
- Milwaukee Brewers – Losing Christian Yelich and several pitchers, including Brandon Woodruff.
- Minnesota Twins – Enduring injuries to Joe Ryan and Carlos Correa.
- San Diego Padres – Without Fernando Tatis Jr. and Yu Darvish, among others.
- Arizona Diamondbacks – Missing key players like Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno.
What’s happening
The race to the playoffs has become a war of endurance for many teams, with the Yankees leading the charge in dealing with significant absences. At one point, a half-dozen teams were on track to win 100 games, but with injuries piling up, that number could dwindle to zero by the end of September.
While the Yankees have made do without key players like Clarke Schmidt and Anthony Rizzo, the road to the postseason remains treacherous. Gerrit Cole’s return and the contributions of Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman have kept the team afloat, but the absence of Schmidt and the recent loss of Jazz Chisholm to an elbow ligament tear have made the journey all the more challenging.
The Yankees’ division and playoff hopes hinge on the health of their roster as September approaches. Schmidt’s potential return from a lat strain and Chisholm’s possible comeback could be game-changers, giving the team a much-needed boost in the final stretch.
With the competition intensifying, the Yankees will need every available player to step up if they hope to make a serious playoff run, despite the injuries that have plagued their season.
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