Today was one of THOSE days...

Cleveland, OH — Yanks sent their second best starter out today with a chance to keep the winning ways going for the Bombers. Well, that did not work out the way they planned it.

⚾️ Final Score 6-4 Guardians over the Yankees

WP: Williams (2-1)

LP: Schmidt (0-1) 7.45

📰 Schmid’s overall stuff looked good (striking out 7), but back-to-back Homers by Jose Ramirez (3-run shot) and Kyle Manzardo ruined his outing. The Yankee offense was lifeless heading into the 7th inning, hitting into 3 double plays. Dominguez and Jazz each hit 2-run HR’s to get the game in reach, but it was not enough.

📊 Record: 14-9

📉Streak: L1

🗓️ : Tuesday at Cleveland: RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.17) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-2, 5.85)

Clarke Schmidt’s line is not totally indicative of his total performance. He gave up two bad pitches to J-Ram and Manzardo resulting in back-to-back Homers. Though, he was not helped out by the outfield defense, more specifically by Jasson Dominguez who let a ball fall in front of him that had a 75% catch probability.

Clarke only lasted four innings into the game, giving up five runs. The Yankees went to Gomez, who gave up an RBI single to J-Ram in the 6th inning.

The Yankee Offense was very unproductive against Gavin Williams until the seventh inning. There was traffic for the Yanks on the bases all day, but a combo of some strikeouts and 3 double plays turned against the Yanks. Jazz and Wells are amongst the crew of Yankee hitters who looked overmatched and unprepared at the plate today.

Jazz is in the midst of almost a month-long slump. Mabey a day of TLC (perhaps a suspension day) could do him some good. One of the things that I have noticed from Jazz this season is how high his strikeout rate is. I know Jazz has power, but his greatest tool is speed, and by constantly striking out, he is not getting on base to use that speed and wreak havoc on the basepaths. The Yankees need Jazz to heat up and be more productive in the middle of the lineup soon so their offense becomes more consistent.

NOTE: Jazz did show off his power in the eighth inning by hitting a two-run HR to make it a two run game, hitting the ball hard twice today, so there is a sign of life in his bat.

Wells is making solid contact, but much like the start of last season, is hitting it right into bad luck. My major takeaway is he is putting the ball in play much more than he is not, which always pays off, as he reached on an E6 in the first inning.

Bellinger seems to be heating up, taking a fastball to the opposite field for a base hit in the 6th inning after hitting the Home Run yesterday. Bellinger has struggled to begin his Yankees tenure, but he looks like he is beginning to wake up a bit offensive (he continues to impact the game in a positive way defensively). Having his power and on-base ability in the middle of the Yankees lineup is definitely something welcome.

Volpe was overmatched by the high fastball earlier in the game, but in the 7th inning caught up to it to line it up the middle. This is a really good sign for Volpe who has a few hits over the past two games. He is another hitter, like Jazz and Belli, who has struggled lately who need to get going to keep the offense a consistent threat, especially with his base stealing abilities.

Goldschmidt continues to be productive putting up two more singles today. His on base percentage is .421! Goldi continues to make the case to be the leadoff hitter against lefty pitchers and righties with reverse splits, and his defense at first base is game-changing.

Jasson Dominguez is showing signs of life by CLOBBERING a curveball out to right-center for a two-run homer, out in all 30 parks. His second homer of 2025 making it 6-2 Guardians at the time.

Dominguez continues to struggle from the right side of the plate, striking out as the tying run in the eighth inning. It’s going to be a learning curve for Dominguez and the Yankees as he has had limited plate appearances in his career from the right side due to injury and lack of leftys across baseball. My opinion, I think the Yankees should start having him hit exclusively lefty, like Cedric Mullins did, so he his more of a threat to the pitcher through the whole game.

The Umpire would make one more stamp on this game, by calling a pitch that was not close a strike on Judge, he ended up striking out to end the game, where he could have tied it. 3-1 is different than 2-2. Need ABS.