It’s still only mid-August and there are another 40 – 45 games left to be played in the baseball season. The Yankees are the odd team out right now in the wild card chase and ultimately will need to beat out either Oakland or Boston to be in the post-season.

That makes today’s doubleheader with the Red Sox very, very important, as well as the whole 3-game series. Boston has owned the Yankees this year – and the last series in Fenway was especially painful as the Yankees blew 2 of those games late. SU says today we will see which players are able to rise to the moment and be accountable, and which ones shrink. Some things to look for today and tomorrow:

1. Will Aaron Boone deploy the Clay Bellinger line-up of subs and minor league players in one of the two games today? “It’s a long season and we need to rest our best players” is a favorite line. SU says the team has been resting for most of the season, and it’s OK to be a little sore tomorrow. Enough of the Jonathan Davis in centerfield line-ups and remind me again why he is on the roster over Greg Allen who is in Scranton?
2. Will Stanton look at the shift and decide to try and hit the ball towards the part of the field where there are hundreds of feet of green? Will he see a low and away slider and say to himself, “Hmmm, I have seen that pitch 787 times this year and have swung and missed 786 times. Maybe don’t swing?” SU prediction: No and No.
3. The absence of Rizzo is a killer for the line up against the better teams. He is a difference maker and allows Boone to insert a left-handed bat in between Stanton and Voit. Check out Voit and where he is standing in the batter’s box now. He is so far off the plate. Hope this works.
4. Tyler Wade needs to play both games today (can’t believe I am even writing that). He does something good every game (again, what am I saying?).
5. SU read that Odor said that he has played great for the Yankees this year. It’s an interesting self-assessment and speaks volumes about what baseball has become in 2021. It means that a .220 hitter with about 40 rbis who plays pretty much every game and swings for the fences with limited success feels he is killing it. True, some of his few hits have been big but please keep it in perspective.
6. Boone’s handling of the relievers is basically terrifying right now. It’s not all his fault as they are all so erratic. Britton has no idea where his pitches are going (aside from to the backstop and to the batter’s legs) and he can no longer be trusted. Green’s curveball is a home run waiting to happen. Loaisiga is the closest thing that they have to a sure thing but not every game. You can say they miss Chapman but he is right in there with the rest of the group. What is incredible is that the Yankees could have almost gone undefeated the last 30 games if the relievers were more consistent in these close games. Their record in 1- and 2-run games is incredible. Today would be a good day for some offense but SU can’t picture it happening.

SU’s prediction: Judge can be counted on now but the Red Sox will pitch around him all series. There is no one to back him up in the line up. Sure, Gallo will hit the occasional home run but is more likely to strike out. Sanchez will be back for one of the games today and it will take him time to regain his timing. I want to be optimistic but there have been too many meltdowns this season. Taking 1 of 3 games this series will be acceptable for SU and then hope for the best against Oakland. Of course, I want more but be honest – no lead in the 9th inning is big enough in any game, and just scoring runs is challenging when you hit .220 with RISP.

But SU will be watching to see who rises to the occasion and sets the tone. Am I being too pessimistic Yankee fans?