Sep 1, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto (22) tosses his helmet after flying out to end the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
With one day left in the final month of the season, the New York Yankees are in a slump. They have lost four of their last five games and are just a half-game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East.
The Yankees (79-58) will look to turn that around and get back on the winning track when they open a six-game road trip Monday with three of them against the Texas Rangers (65-72) in Arlington, Texas.
“As bad as people think we’re playing … we’re still in first place,” said pitcher Nestor Cortes, who started Sunday in a 14-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. “It’s there for us to take advantage of. We just have to come out every day prepared and ready to win every day.”
The Yankees’ pitching struggled in the loss. Cortes lasted four innings, allowing five runs on nine hits. The bullpen allowed the remaining nine runs, including five in a seventh inning that began with the score tied 7-7.
They will turn to Gerrit Cole (5-3, 3.86 ERA) to open the series.
The veteran right-hander, who is 6-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rangers, has pitched at least five innings in each of his past eight outings. In August, he limited opponents to three runs and 17 hits in four starts before allowing three runs and six hits in his most recent appearance, a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals last Tuesday.
New York has lost three of its last four series against non-playoff teams and will face another in Texas.
“We know how important these games are,” manager Aaron Boone said. “… We have to play our best and do our best to win these games. And we hope to start that way on Monday night.”
The Yankees welcomed back first baseman Anthony Rizzo on Sunday. Rizzo, who had been out since June 18 with a broken forearm, went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and scored twice.
The Rangers are coming off a 6-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Josh Jung hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to lead them to their fifth win in their last six games.
It was his second consecutive victory and his eighth of the season.
“I think winning and having fun are kind of intertwined,” Jung said. “Yeah, we’re having a good time. That was a really fun moment for me today. I was jumping up and down. I think when you start winning more matches, the fun comes with it.”
August turned out to be a fun month for Corey Seager. He hit 11 home runs last month, which ranked second in the majors, one behind Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
“He’s awesome,” pitcher Nathan Eovaldi said of Seager last week. “We’re just so thankful to be able to watch him play every day and see everything he does day in and day out.”
Although Monday’s starter has not been officially confirmed, Texas is expected to have left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-13, 3.95), who is 1-4 with a 5.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees, on the mound.
–Field level media
