By: Billy Lewis
The New York Yankees are playing some of the best baseball in the Majors right now. After a two-game sweep in Atlanta, they are riding an 11 game winning streak! The 11 game streak is the Bomber’s longest win streak since 1985 and has propelled them to the top of the Wild Card standings.
The series finale in Atlanta was not an easy one to close out. Closer Aroldis Chapman struggled mightily with control, after getting two outs with the Yankees up 5-3, Chapman would load the bases. After an Ozzie Albies infield single, Chapman walked Jorge Solar making it 5-4, Aaron Boone turned to Wandy Peralta to finish the game.
Peralta did a masterful job against reigning MVP Freddie Freeman and ended the game with a fly-out to left. The ending had fans on the edge of their seat and in the end, the Yankees boarded a plane after winning their 11th straight.
New York Yankees Go to Oakland
Tonight the Yankees will start a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Despite being on a roll, this is yet another crucial series for the Yankees. The A’s sit in third place of the AL Wild Card chase. They’re 4.5 back of the Yankees, so the Bombers have a chance to push the A’s well into the rearview mirror.
Jameson Taillon will look to stay red-hot as he gets the ball tonight for the Yanks. Going against him will be former Yankee farmhand James Kaprielian. The Yankees are also getting healthier as Gio Urshela will be activated off the IL for tonight’s series opener. It’s going to be interesting to see how Boone handles the lineup as Rougned Odor has been handling third since Urshela’s injury.
Odor hit a mammoth home run Tuesday night, that ended up being the game-winner. Much like how Luke Voit sat without a DH, even after winning AL Player of the Week, Odor will probably find himself as the odd man out.
Safe to say when you’re on an 11 game winning streak, you’re going to win many series along the way. The Yankees have now won ten straight series, the most they have since 1954! They will look to continue both streaks tonight in Oakland.