New York Yankees: AL East
Boston Mountain Publishing
Updated Thursday, October 6, 2022, 2:26 PM
New York Yankees - #4
The New York Yankees finish 2022 with the second-best record (99-63) in the American League behind the Houston Astros. They have secured the 2nd playoff position and the automatic first-round bye. By securing the first round-bye, they will receive an extra week off before taking on either the #3 Cleveland Guardians or #6 Tampa Bay Rays after their best of 3 series.
Aaron Boone is in his 5th year managing the Yankees and this is the 2nd time for his team to finish atop the AL East Division. Last year, the Yankees finished 2nd in the East and had to play in the 1 game Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox losing 6-2. As a player, Aaron Boone (3B) played for 6 MLB Teams starting his career in 1997 with the Cincinnati Reds. He was in the majors for 12 seasons, and he appeared in the 2003 All-Star Game. He is a third generation MLB player from the Boone family, following his Father Bob Boone (C) and Grandfather (IF) Ray Boone.
The New York Yankees are currently the third favorite to win the World Series at +500 odds at the Caesar's Sportsbook in Las Vegas.
HITTING
As a team, the Yankees finished the season 15th in the league in batting average, hitting .241 on the year. In the league, the Yankees ended the regular season 16th in total hits, 2nd in runs scored, 1st in walks, and 1st in HRs on the year.
Aaron Judge (CF) finishes the 2022 season in style, hitting his 62nd HR to break the Yankees record that had been held since Roger Maris in 1961. He hit .311 while appearing in 157 games this season. He had 177 hits on the year which includes 28 doubles, and a league high 62 HRs to go along with a league best 131 RBIs. He struck out a team high 175 times.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B) batted .261 in 142 for the Yankees this year. He had 126 hits including 20 doubles, and 4 HRs on the year. He also led the team with 22 stolen bases in 2022.
DJ LeMahieu (3B) also hit .261 on the year while playing in 125 games in 2002 for the Yankees. He had 122 hits which includes 18 doubles and 12 HRs to go along with 46 RBIs.
Anthony Rizzo (1B) was second on the team with 32 HRs, but he hit a mild .224 in 130 games this year.
Gleyber Torres (SS) played in 140 games for the Yankees in 2022 and had 135 hits including 28 doubles, 1 triple and 24 HRs with 76 RBIs.
Andrew Benintendi (LF) was Top 10 in the league in batting average hitting .304 in 126 starts until he injured his hand September 2 on an inside pitch against the Rays. The team decided he would need surgery on September 6th, and they are hoping he can return to the lineup for the playoffs. Up until the injury, Benintendi had 23 Doubles, 3 Triples. and 5 HRs through August.
PITCHING
The Yankees starting rotation and their bullpen were the 4th best in the league this year, 2nd behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League. They finish 3rd in the league with a 3.30 team ERA and they held teams to a 3rd best .219 overall batting average on the season behind LA and Houston.
Nestor Cortes (P) finished the year with 12-4 record with a 2.44 ERA. Opposing batters only hit .189 on him having thrown 158.1 innings in 28 starts on the year. Cortes had 163 strikeouts and 1 complete game on his resume in 2022.
Gerrit Cole (P) end up with a 13-8 record with a 3.50 ERA on the season with 33 starts. He threw a league high 257 strikeouts over a team best 200.2 innings this year.
Jamison Taillon (P) finished the year with a 14-5 record in 32 starts. He threw 177.1 innings with a 3.91 ERA in 2022. Taillon struck out 151 batters while only giving up 30 walks on the year.
Clay Holmes (P) appeared in 62 games and pitched 63.2 innings out of the bullpen. He had 20 saves in 25 attempts and closed the year with a 2.54 ERA. He finishes the season with a 7-4 record.
Aroldis Chapman (P) has come out of the bullpen in 43 games this year for the Yankees. The left-hander had a 4.46 ERA in 36.1 innings pitched. Chapman had 9 saves on 9 attempts and finished the year with a record of 4-4. Chapman has been on and off the IR all year, missing all of June with an Achilles issue, and then again in late August into September after being sidelined with an infection from a tattoo he received on his left calf. They will need him in the post season and he did throw an inning this week for the Yankees.
End of Regular Season
Play will resume for the Yankees on October 11 against the Cleveland Guardians or the Tampa Bay Rays.
Check out the MLB Playoff Rundown by Team here:
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