Rachel: Dave, the Yankees just beat the Red Sox 1-0 in a nail-biter, and now they're about to do it again in a doubleheader. But here's the thing — Max Fried is coming off the IL to pitch today. That changes everything.
Dave: It absolutely does. And with Judge and Stanton still out, this rotation spot is huge. Let's get into it.
Rachel: Welcome back to Beatline, the network where every pitch counts. I'm Rachel, and as always, Dave is here with the breakdown.
Dave: Hey everyone, excited to talk some Yankees baseball.
Rachel: In today's episode: first, we're breaking down the series opener and what it means for the doubleheader. Second, we're diving into Max Fried's return and the rest of the injury report. And third, we're giving you our keys to the series and bold predictions.
Dave: Stick around, because Fried's return could be the spark this rotation needs.
Rachel: Alright Dave, let's start with last night. Yankees edge out the Red Sox 1-0. Paul Goldschmidt homered, and Cody Bellinger threw out the potential tying run at home in the seventh. That's a huge play.
Dave: Huge is an understatement. Bellinger's arm saved the game. And Goldschmidt continues to be the steady veteran presence this lineup needs with Judge and Stanton out.
Rachel: And the pitching was stellar. Cam Schlittler got the win. What did you see from him?
Dave: He was efficient, kept the ball down, and mixed his offspeed well. That's the kind of start we need from the back of the rotation.
Rachel: Now today, it's a day-night doubleheader. That means two games, two starting pitchers. We know Max Fried is coming off the IL for game one. Who's got the ball in game two?
Dave: The Yankees haven't announced it yet, but they'll need a spot starter. Could be Will Warren or maybe Elmer Rodriguez. We'll have to see.
Rachel: And the Red Sox? They're third in the AL East, 73-60. This is a big series for both teams.
Dave: Absolutely. The Yankees are 76-58, second in the division. These four games could shift the AL East race.
Rachel: Dave, you mentioned the doubleheader. That means two games in one day. How do you manage the bullpen?
Dave: It's tricky. You need length from your starters. Fried will give you six or seven, but the second game is a question mark. The bullpen might have to cover four or five innings.
Rachel: And with the injuries to Fried, Schmidt, and others, that bullpen is thin. Who's left?
Dave: You've got David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Justin Topa, and the newly signed Michael Fulmer. They'll need to step up.
Rachel: We talked about the Fulmer signing on Wednesday. He's a veteran arm who could eat innings. That's crucial in a doubleheader.
Dave: Exactly. And don't forget Ryan Yarbrough. He can give you length too.
Rachel: Alright, let's get to Max Fried. He's been on the IL, and he's starting game one today. What do you expect from him?
Dave: Fried is a ground-ball machine. He'll keep the ball in the park, work efficiently, and give the bullpen a break. I'd expect five or six innings, maybe 90 pitches.
Rachel: That would be huge. And it's a day game, so the Red Sox hitters might be a little sluggish. Advantage Yankees?
Dave: Could be. But the Red Sox have a solid lineup. You can't take them lightly.
Rachel: Dave, you called the opener a 5-3 win and Gerrit Cole striking out seven. He didn't pitch, but the Yankees won 1-0. So you were half right.
Dave: I'll take the win. But Cole is still a concern. He gave up two homers to the Astros on Thursday. We need him to bounce back.
Rachel: Right, and we'll see him later in this series. But for now, let's focus on today. Fried on the mound, Goldschmidt and Bellinger in the lineup. What's the vibe?
Dave: Confident. The Yankees are playing well, and they know they can win tight games.
Rachel: Alright, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we're diving into the key hitters and the bullpen questions. Stick with us.
Rachel: Welcome back. Now let's talk about the offense. With Judge and Stanton on the 60-day IL, it's been a group effort. Paul Goldschmidt has been the anchor.
Dave: Goldschmidt's homer last night was his 20th of the year. He's been consistent all season, and he's a veteran presence in the clubhouse.
Rachel: And Cody Bellinger — that throw was incredible. He's been a two-way threat in left field.
Dave: Bellinger's defense has saved runs all year. And he's hitting .280 with 15 homers. He's been a great addition.
Rachel: Now, the young guys. Spencer Jones has been hot. He homered in the Astros series, and he's been a spark at the top of the lineup.
Dave: Jones is a future star. He's got power, speed, and he's learning to be patient at the plate. His plate discipline has improved a lot.
Rachel: And Jazz Chisholm Jr. — he's been a catalyst on the bases. He's got 25 steals on the year.
Dave: Chisholm's speed changes the game. He puts pressure on the defense and gets into scoring position.
Rachel: But there's a concern: George Lombard Jr. He's made an error in six straight games. That's a tough stretch for a rookie shortstop.
Dave: It's a learning experience. He's got the tools, but he's pressing. The Yankees need to stick with him and let him play through it.
Rachel: And with the errors, it's cost them games. Like Thursday's loss to Houston. But last night, he made the plays he needed to.
Dave: That's the key. He's learning, and he'll be better for it.
Rachel: Now, the bullpen. We mentioned the injuries. Max Fried is back, but Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten are on the IL for the Red Sox. So they're dealing with injuries too.
Dave: Every team has injuries. The Yankees' bullpen has been stretched, but they've been effective. Tim Hill has been solid, and David Bednar has been closing games.
Rachel: And Michael Fulmer? He's a new addition. What can we expect from him?
Dave: Fulmer gives them a veteran arm who can pitch multiple innings. That's valuable in a doubleheader.
Rachel: Alright, let's talk about the Red Sox lineup. They've got some big names, but they're missing Trevor Story and Roman Anthony. That's significant.
Dave: It is. Those are two key bats. But they still have Christian Walker and Jeremy Peña... wait, no, those are Astros. Sorry, I'm mixing up teams.
Rachel: Ha, easy mistake. The Red Sox have a solid lineup, but without Story and Anthony, they're not as deep.
Dave: Right. The Yankees need to take advantage of that. If they can keep the ball in the yard, they'll win these games.
Rachel: Alright, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we're giving our keys to the series and bold predictions. Stick with us.
Rachel: Welcome back. Now let's talk about what the Yankees need to do to win this series. Dave, what's your first key?
Dave: First, they need to get length from their starters. With the doubleheader, they can't afford to burn through the bullpen in game one. Fried needs to go six or seven.
Rachel: And in game two, they'll need a quality start from whoever gets the ball. That's a big ask.
Dave: Exactly. Second key: the offense needs to capitalize on scoring chances. They won 1-0 last night, but they left runners on base. Against a team like Boston, they need to add on.
Rachel: And third key? Defense. They can't afford errors like Lombard's streak. They need to play clean baseball.
Dave: Absolutely. One error can cost you a game, especially in a tight series.
Rachel: Now, bold predictions. Dave, you went 5-3 in the opener, but they won 1-0. So you were close. What's your prediction for today's doubleheader?
Dave: I'll say the Yankees sweep the doubleheader. Fried gives us six strong innings in game one, and the bullpen locks it down. Then in game two, the offense breaks out. Yankees win 6-2 and 4-1.
Rachel: Bold. I like it. My prediction? Spencer Jones homers in both games. He's been seeing the ball well, and he's due for a breakout.
Dave: That's a hot take. I could see it. He's got the power.
Rachel: And I'll say Jazz Chisholm steals three bases today. He's a threat every time he gets on.
Dave: That would put pressure on the Boston catchers. I like it.
Rachel: Alright, let's wrap it up. Today's episode: we recapped the 1-0 win, looked ahead to the doubleheader, and gave our keys to the series. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Beatline. Share it with a fellow Yankees fan.
Dave: And stay tuned for all the action. We'll be back tomorrow with the recap.
Rachel: Until then, go Yankees!