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The New York Yankees’ magical number to clinch the AL-East division is one. However, that victory is taking its own sweet time to come around. Following Gleyber Torres’ misguided error on the basepaths, the Yanks lost game 1 against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 final scoreline.

While the New York Yankees’ hopes for game 2 were sky-high, a later injury crisis forced them to make immediate changes to the rotation plans. And that last-minute switch proved to be costly as the Yanks lost game two and subsequently missed out on another straight chance to clinch the AL-East division.

Marcus Stroman’s Inexcusable Start Hampers Yankees AL-East Division Pursuit

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The New York Yankees woke up to devastating news on Wednesday as Nestor Cortes, who was scheduled to pitch against the Orioles, was placed on 15-day IL with elbow strain. Cortes had his MRI scans after complaints of discomfort while throwing. And the injury was more severe than he earlier anticipated. That being said, Cortes’ unavailability forced the Yanks to turn to Marcus Stroman, who, in fact, was moved to the bullpen earlier this week. While Stroman didn’t allow any extra-base hit, he gave up 10 singles over 3.1 innings, which didn’t yield much success either. The pitcher was tagged for six earned runs in a 9-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Stroman’s return to the mound after not starting since September 10 was far from smooth.

He visibly looked rusty and struggled to find his rhythm. The right-hander allowed hits to the first six Orioles he faced, leading to a three-run first inning, and his troubles continued in the fourth before he was pulled from the game. Marcus Stroman finished with a 4.31 ERA, highlighting his ongoing struggles. His struggles, paired with Baltimore’s ability to find holes in the Yankees’ defense, ultimately led to a rough outing. For his part, Stroman took responsibility for his performance. “I was fine, there’s no excuses. I have to be better out there. Regardless of rhythm or when I last threw,” Stroman said. Overall, as the Yankees look to lock down the division and prepare for the postseason, they’ll have to carefully weigh their pitching options. With an unreliable Stroman and an injured Cortes, the Yanks will be hoping their other starters can carry the load in October.

Juan Soto Expresses Frustration With Yankees’ Stranded Division Campaign

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The New York Yankees lost two back-to-back games against the Baltimore Orioles, with the AL-East division’s magical number being one. The losses are naturally frustrating, given how close the team is to clinching the division. However, Juan Soto refused to deem the recent slump frustrating by calling it a part of baseball.

He acknowledged the Baltimore Orioles’ competitiveness and gracefully conceded defeat. “At the end of the day, they’re playing good baseball, and you’ve got to take it,” Soto said. On Thursday, the Yankees will have ace Gerrit Cole pitching for them, and Juan Soto feels good about the team’s chances of clinching the AL-East division with a win over the Orioles in the series finale.