Can Giancarlo Stanton’s Return Bring The Struggling Yankees Back To Life?
The New York Yankees have struggled mightily since the All-Star break. They haven’t won a single series post break, and have lost almost all of the momentum that they had in the first half of the season. The Yankees were looked at as heavy American League favorites, and a serious World Series contender before this latest slump. There is no single issue to point at for their struggles, but one major effect on the team’s misfortune is the absence of slugger and MLBbro Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton has been out with a left Achilles injury since July 26, but he has been steadily recovering and is on track to make a rehab-start next week before returning to his ball club. This couldn’t have come at a better time as the Bronx Bombers just avoided a big injury to fellow teammate DJ LeMahieu. Getting Stanton back can help to stabilize the lineup and get the Yankees back to full strength. Aaron Boone is hoping that having a player of his caliber return will invigorate the clubhouse and spark winning ways again.
Giancarlo Stanton was having a very successful season before being injured. Fresh off another All-Star season and the All-Star Game MVP award, Stanton was a threat to pitchers on a nightly basis. The 32 year-old veteran is slashing .228/.309/.498 with 24 homers and 61 RBI in 80 games. The Yankees are 8-15 since his latest stint on the IL and their offense has been horrible. They have not been able to replace his production in the lineup and the offense has been putrid without him. The team also has the worst record in the Majors in the month of August so far.
Although his injury did assist in throwing off the Yankees season, his hopeful return can counteract it. If Stanton can return and pair with fellow MLBbro Aaron Judge to get the Yankees back on a winning track they can regain their momentum at the right time. The silver lining is, that since the Yankees held such a large division lead before his injury, going 51-29 in games he played, they are still firmly in first place in the American League East Division. The Major League Baseball season is a marathon not a sprint, so if Stanton can come back and right the ship, the Yankees are poised to finish strong.
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