From Bryan Hoch:
Ryan Yarbrough moved with purpose across the field during batting practice at Dodger Stadium on Friday afternoon, attempting to remain under the radar as he retraced his steps toward the visitors’ clubhouse. The left-hander carried a 2024 World Series ring, the home team having quietly recognized the 67 1/3 innings he tossed for them early last season.
Yarbrough slipped the ring into his locker without fanfare; few of his current teammates would care to see it displayed. The Yankees are more interested in Yarbrough’s present than his past, and the crafty left-hander silenced one of the game’s most thunderous offenses on Sunday, helping salvage the series finale with a 7-3 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Boy, did they need THAT.
After their ace embarrassed himself in Game 1, the Yankees embarrassed the Dodgers’ ace, as well, in this game, sending Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the showers before the 4th inning was even over.
There was a little bit of a scare when Jonathan Loaisiga gave up two solo home runs to cut the lead to 6-3, but then DJ LeMahieu delivered his FOURTH hit of the night to give the Yankees a 7-3 lead in the ninth.
Some injury concerns, though. Luke Weaver was going to close the game out even when it was 7-3, but had to remove himself from consideration due to feeling discomfort in his hamstring. That could be a big deal, but it could be a minor deal. We’ll have to wait and see. I suspect a short IL stint at the very least.
Earlier in the game, despite wearing a protective glove on his right hand, Jasson Dominguez jammed his LEFT thumb by sliding into the bag with his unprotected left hand. He couldn’t swing a bat, and had to be pinch-hit for. Now, obviously, with Clay Bellinger and Trent Grisham both playing well, an IL stint for Dominguez will be less painful for the Yankees, but it’s still not GOOD. They said left thumb contusion, and let’s hope that’s as far as it goes.
In any event, like I said, they needed that win and, well, they got it. So that’s good.
The featured image is Ryan Yarbrough getting his roses in the dugout after six innings of one-run ball. Another nice job by Yarbrough. This rotation is looking pretty good. Although it’ll be interesting to see how Will Warren handles the Red Sox in his next start (Max Fried will miss the Red Sox, as he’ll be pitching against the Cleveland Guardians instead in the finale of that series).
Great article on Judge!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/06/02/aaron-judge-stats-yankees-world-series/83986415007/
Amazing.
Thanks.
Who’s the guy at right of frame facing away from Yarbrough?
PGold
Thanks
So the Savannah Bananas were pretty fun. Very silly and clearly aimed at families with kids and I think that’s great, good way to get them excited about the game. John Lackey pitched an inning! And they SOLD OUT Angels stadium for TWO NIGHTS. MLB should take note.
On the field the rules are goofy but not too goofy and they try to do “trick plays” which don’t count for anything except style points. One guy caught a couple fly balls between his legs and another did a backflip while catching the ball.
Also they do have diehard fans who are adults, people in the merch who clearly hadn’t bought it at the game. The merch line was an hour long!
Like the Globetrotters?
Sounds pretty awesome!
Pretty much exactly like the Globetrotters, as much as you can do that in baseball. Very explicitly oriented to families with young kids–they crowned a Banana Princess, had a dad bod dance off, etc.
Blue sky: the protagonist in Clive Barker’s Horror film Nightbreed is named Aaron Boone
Getting Aaron Small vibes from Yarby.
Carrasco outright waiver, Cruz likely to be back tomorrow.
Cash has made such unusual moves with these veteran guys signed for literally one or two games just as depth pieces. It’s fascinating.
I wonder if they would consider making Cruz the closer if Weaver goes on the IL.
Hard to believe that for the first time ever, in the 114th season of Fenway Park, the visiting team hit three HRs in the first inning.
https://www.mlb.com/news/zach-neto-mike-trout-jo-adell-homer-1st-inning-fenway-park
Halos held on.
Odd that every article lately seems to keep saying how Judge is leading in “virtually every offensive category,” without noting that he’s not leading in the first one that comes to mind for most when they think of him.
Passan: New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver is expected be placed on the injured list after injuring his hamstring warming up Sunday night, sources tell ESPN. Weaver underwent an MRI and could miss four to six weeks, though the official timetable will be determined Tuesday.
Oh Good!
The other shoe? It has dropped.
As I was saying earlier, any chance at all that Cruz could get the closer gig?
No one needs a 1-2-3 save in his next outing as a closer more than Devin Williams.
This.
So out of the blue.
And – no word on the Martian?
This also means Weaver will miss out on being an All-Star for the first time, which sucks.
Unfortunately, but the least of our worries.
Eh, I think the team can live without Weaver for a month or so. They barely missed Cruz, and Cruz was doing a great job, as well. Williams seems to have re-found himself, and Lo is back (and Leiter is pitching well, as well), so I think they’ll be okay. Weaver, though, might never make an All-Star team again in his career (hopefully he does as the Yankees closer next season, but who knows, right?).
I don’t know, they’ve had a bunch of games lately where the availability of their good relievers has been a problem. *IF* Williams doesn’t have 9th-inning yips, that’ll go a long way, of course! But no one has been as rock-solid as Weaver.
Of course it would be nice for him to go to the All-Star game, and yes, let’s hope the next year or two he goes there – from NYA!
Cam Schlittler bumped to AAA per Curry. Big college RHP with a hard 4-seam and has been pretty much dominant in the minors. Top-10 Org prospect per MLB, 5th according to FanGraphs.
LaGrange bumped to AA.
It’s possible that they’ll take a Clarke Schmidt approach with some of their young starters, use them in high leverage relief situations until they have room in the rotation. Heck, it’d be interesting if they would consider using Will Warren as a high leverage reliever when Luis Gil returns. Ryan Yarbrough seems like he would be more valuable as an innings-eating fifth starter than as a long man, right? As I don’t think you want Yarbrough as a high leverage reliever.
I like Yarborough as a stretched out starter since he’s a lefty. It’s closer to his original role with Tampa.
Options Vivas, not Reyes.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/1929969126937690315?t=PUFpbbYEjUnrGwRO2oZALw&s=19
I can see the logic. Vivas wasn’t going to play (and neither is Reyes, of course), so might as well keep the depth piece for now. Reyes can play more positions.
NYY Lineup
TBD
T Grisham (L) CF
B Rice (L) DH
A Judge (R) RF
C Bellinger (L) LF
P Goldschmidt (R) 1B
J Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
A Volpe (R) SS
J Escarra (L) C
D LeMahieu (R) 2B
Dj is safe now until at least the Fourth of July. 🧨
2032?
But at least he’s only one slot away from the lineup spot in which he should be hitting.
Second leadoff