Yankees emerge as overwhelming American League favorites
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 8
Yankees emerge as overwhelming American League favorites
7 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 8
New York leads the AL at 26-12, with Carlos Rodón due back Sunday and 2024 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole nearing his return from Tommy John surgery.
The Yankees pair the league's best 3.04 ERA with a powerful lineup led by Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, whose combined 27 home runs exceed the Brewers' and Giants' totals.
Their edge is amplified by a faltering AL field: among last year's six playoff teams, only New York was above .500 entering Thursday, while Tampa Bay trailed despite a far weaker run differential.
With superstars returning, will the Yankees' record-setting chemistry be bolstered or disrupted?
Is the Yankees' dominance a sign of their strength or a symptom of a weak American League?
Can breakout star Ben Rice reclaim his starting role after his injury?