Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Our Reacts surveys are back this week with a couple questions to ponder now that we’re well past Memorial Day and over 40 percent of the way through 2026 MLB season. The Yankees are off to a very nice start, though the Rays’ scorching May means that the two teams are in a virtual
tie for the best record in both the American League and the AL East (38-25 for Tampa Bay, 39-26 for New York).
Much of the Yankees’ strong start included captain Aaron Judge, but they will be seemingly without the three-time AL MVP until late July at the earliest due to the stress fracture in his upper right rib. August even seems more likely. Although Judge wasn’t quite at his most absurd MVP form, he still had a .907 OPS and 17 homers in 59 games. In the meantime, the Yankees will make do with some combination of rookie Spencer Jones and utilityman Max Schuemann filling in in the outfield, plus José Caballero as well when he’s not manning shortstop. Jasson Domínguez is on a rehab assignment and will surely take outfield time as well once he’s OK to return.
Do you think the Yankees will win the AL East with Judge missing so much time? Even if you think the team is better than it was when it lost Judge for nearly two months in the playoff-less 2023, it could still be a tall ask.
Working in the Yanks’ favor is that the AL as a whole appears to be down in 2026. The Rays were playing above their heads (given preseason expectations) for awhile and have returned to Earth with a 4-10 record in their last 14 games. The Guardians have the third-best record in the Junior Circuit behind New York and Tampa Bay, but can they keep that up all year? The Mariners were a preseason favorite and indeed lead the AL West … at just three games over .500. The defending champion Blue Jays have disappointed and are presently on the fringes of the Wild Card picture.
Still, one of those four teams is probably the de facto top AL foe for New York. Who do you think it is? Vote in our survey and we’ll check out the results later this week.
