The Yankees are reeling. They just got swept by the Red Sox in four games, dropped a fifth straight Monday night to the Tigers, and now they have to face Detroit’s Tarik Skubal — probably the best pitcher in the game right now. And they’ll have to do it without two key bats.
Aaron Boone confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger are both out of the lineup for the series opener against Skubal. The infielder’s absence is injury-related. The outfielder’s is performance-related.
Chisholm’s Collision with Dominguez
Chisholm collided hard with Jasson Dominguez during Monday’s loss. It looked ugly in real time. Boone told reporters he’s hoping to have Chisholm available off the bench Tuesday, but that’s not a guarantee. The team is waiting on further updates. The fact that Boone is even leaving the door open for a pinch-hit appearance is mildly encouraging. But it’s not a good sign that he was held out entirely after the collision.
Chisholm has been a dynamic addition since the Yankees traded for him, bringing energy and some thump to the infield. Losing him for any extended stretch would sting — especially with the lineup already scuffling.
Bellinger’s Slide Continues
Bellinger’s case is simpler. He’s just not hitting. Boone confirmed he’s 2-for-27 over his last eight games. That kind of skid makes sitting him against a left-handed ace like Skubal an obvious call. Both Bellinger and Skubal are lefties, and the day off might help him reset mentally. The Yankees need him to get right, because when he’s on, he lengthens a lineup that has looked short lately.
The reality is the Yankees are stuck in a rut. They’ve lost five straight. Their pitching has been shaky. Their bats have gone quiet. And now they’re walking into a buzzsaw named Tarik Skubal without two regulars in the order. Not ideal.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM EST at Yankee Stadium. We’ll see if the Bombers can scratch out a win — or if Skubal makes them look as helpless as everyone else has lately.
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