‘We’re gonna be right in it’ – The Denver Post

The Yankees believe they can reach the summit, even as their playoff odds plummet.

Following a 5-1 loss Monday night to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees fell a season-high 5.5 games out of the third and final American League Wild Card spot. They entered Tuesday with 49 games remaining and a 10.7% probability of qualifying for the postseason, according to Fangraphs.

“It’s doable,” ace Gerrit Cole said after taking the loss Monday. “Mountains are different sizes. The goal is just to get to the top, so whatever it takes.”

Coming off a 99-win season and an AL East title, the Yankees entered the 2023 campaign with similar core players and 81.2% odds of making the playoffs. Those odds stood at 56.5% going into last month’s All-Star break, when the team was only a game out of the last postseason spot.

The Yankees have faced their share of challenges. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge has missed nearly half of the team’s games, first with a hip strain and then with an injured big toe that continues to limit him. Fellow outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Harrison Bader also endured prolonged absences, while first baseman Anthony Rizzo went on the injured list last week with post-concussion syndrome following a two-month slump.

The rotation’s depth has also been tested. Nestor Cortes returned Saturday from a rotator cuff strain that kept him out more than two months. Carlos Rodon missed the season’s first three months with forearm and back issues, then returned to the injured list Monday with a left hamstring strain.

Frankie Montas hasn’t pitched at all this season after undergoing February shoulder surgery, while Luis Severino has struggled to a 2-6 record and 7.74 ERA. The team also likely lost Domingo German for the season last week as he attends inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse.

The Yankees mostly stood pat at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, doubling down on hope that a talented roster could get healthy and fulfill their preseason expectations. Monday’s loss dropped the Yankees to 9-13 in the second half this season.

“There’s a lot of talent in this clubhouse,” first baseman Jake Bauers said Monday night. “It’s no secret that things haven’t really been going right. Things haven’t really been going our way. At some point, everything’s going to turn around. We’re going to get hot. We’re going to win some games. September’s going to come around, and we’re gonna be right in it.”

Before Monday, the Yankees were 9-0 in games started by Cole after a loss. Cole allowed four runs — including two charged to him after he exited — over 7-plus innings. The Yankees offense left 13 men on base against the White Sox, a day after they stranded 15 in a 9-7 loss to the Houston Astros.

“We had a lot of chances and we’ve got to capitalize,” manager Aaron Boone said after being ejected from Monday’s game for arguing balls and strikes.

The Chicago series is the first stop on a nine-game road trip that also includes three-game sets against the Miami Marlins and the National League-best Atlanta Braves.

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