New York Post | Dan Martin: The Yankees created several questions with their offseason strategy to run it back with largely the same roster as last year, and their dominant first week of games has begun the process of moving the conversation away from those concerns. There were questions over how Ben Rice would hold up on both sides of the ball now that he is the full-time first baseman, and he has risen to the task on both fronts. Many wanted a more marquee upgrade to the starting rotation than
Ryan Weathers with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt missing the start of the year to injury, but the Yankees rotation has only gone and made history by allowing just two runs in the first six games. The bullpen has had some up and down moments but largely has followed the rotation’s lead. The left side of the infield remains a question with Ryan McMahon’s limp bat and José Caballero’s throwing miscues.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: David Bednar has been a stabilizing force in the closer role since being brought over last trade deadline. He secured three saves on the road trip and in general inspires a ton of confidence when he enters in the ninth — unlike several pitchers the Yankees have allowed to close games in recent years. He is loving his time in New York on a contending team — the one area that still requires the biggest adjustment, however, is navigating city traffic during his commute to the ballpark.
SNY | Phillip Martinez: The Yankees return home from their six-game road trip to host the Marlins in their Friday home opener. Martinez came up with five storylines for the upcoming series, starting with whether Aaron Judge will truly ignite his season after striking out at an elevated clip to open the year. How will Will Warren and Ryan Weathers do in their second starts — Weathers facing the team that dealt him to the Yankees. The Yankees shouldn’t take these Marlins upstarts too lightly, the offense scoring nine-plus in three straight games and pitchers allowing more than three runs just once this year.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Yankee Stadium is offering a new slate of concessions and Kirschner provides his comprehensive review of the new dishes. Atop the list is an optical illusion dessert that looks like the famed chicken tender bucket but in reality is a cornflake-coated, drumstick-shaped ice cream. At the bottom of the list is a pinto bean empanada that is “an affront to empanadas.”
ESPN: ESPN released their first in-season power rankings and the Yankees sit in second behind the Dodgers. The pitching has been the driving force in the Yankees’ hot start, the team allowing a combined six runs across the first six games. The Dodgers’ superior offensive performances give them the slight edge, though the Yankees hold the upper hand in the standings and on the mound.
