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New York Yankees Editorial: Six Keys For The Next Six Games

By Harrison Marder |

With the final off day of the season behind them, the New York Yankees will embark on a stretch where they play 17 games in 17 days to round out the 2015 campaign. Each contest the rest of the way is important. However, the next six games for the Bronx Bombers will truly be a test of their fortitude.

The grueling six game slate begins with the Yanks hopping on the 7 train to Flushing Meadows for a three game weekend set with the crosstown rival New York Mets at Citi Field. After that, it’s off to Rogers Centre for three more games against the first place Toronto Blue Jays.

Six games on the road against two division-leading teams will certainly speak volumes regarding the talent, toughness and fight of this 2015 Yankees squad.

Undoubtedly, the Yankees will have their work cut out for them. So, without further ado, here are the six keys for the Bombers to make the most out of their next six games:

Key #1: Starting Pitching

Quality starting pitching has been at a premium for the Yankees all season long. This has led to early exits for starting pitchers, and sometimes, even earlier entrances for guys out of the bullpen.

Getting length from starting pitchers over the next six games is vital for the Yanks. Manager Joe Girardi has set up his rotation to allow his three best pitchers at the moment, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda, to start at Citi Field this weekend. Tanaka is also slated to pitch next Wednesday in Toronto.

Tanaka must continue to pitch like the ace he has developed into. At the same time, Pineda, Sabathia and even rookie Luis Severino have to allow an overworked bullpen to get some well deserved rest.

Key #2: Replacing A-Rod

The Yankees are playing in a National League park this weekend. That means there will be no designated hitter. No designated hitter means no Alex Rodriguez.

With Rodriguez out of the lineup, sluggers like Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran will have to step up and fill the offensive void. It will be a tall task to try to replace Rodriguez’s 32 home runs and 83 RBIs.

A-Rod will be doing his damage in this weekend’s Subway Series as a pinch hitter. In his pinch hit opportunities this season, Rodriguez is 3-for-7 with a home run. The 40-year-old DH will return to the starting lineup when the Yankees take on the Blue Jays next week.

Key #3: Get The Ball To Andrew Miller

Sep 16, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher

Andrew Miller

(48) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Miller has been a dominant force the entire season. He has converted 34 out of 35 saves. His ERA is a masterful 1.80. Miller has far exceeded expectations in his first season as the Yankees closer.

In his last two outings, both against the Tampa Bay Rays, Miller struck out the side in order to earn the save. He made Rays hitters look silly, while his slider continued to look as filthy as ever.

The Yankees must find a way to bridge the gap between their starting pitchers and Miller during the next six games. With the ball in Miller’s hands, the Bombers should feel confident about nailing down a victory.

Key #4: Production From The Top Of The Lineup

Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner have not been getting the job done offensively. That much is clear.

The top two hitters in the Yankees lineup must produce over the next six games or else the Yanks will find themselves in deep trouble.

Ellsbury and Gardner need to work the count, get on base and even wreak some havoc on the base paths. Runs will be at a premium against the Mets talented trio of starters scheduled to pitch in this weekend’s series. This trio is compromised of Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey. Let’s also not forget about David Price looming in the series with the Blue Jays.

Scoring runs starts at the top of the lineup. Either Ellsbury and Gardner will step up and deliver, or they will continue what has been a putrid offensive showing.

Key #5: Dealing With Rabid Road Fan Bases

2006 was the last year that the Mets were a playoff team. The Blue Jays have not seen postseason baseball since the year I was born, 1993.

This is the first time in a long time that either franchise is playing in meaningful games in the month of September. For many years, road games against the Mets and Blue Jays in late September meant predominantly Yankees fans in the seats. This season, that is not going to be the case.

Expect both Citi Field and Rogers Centre to have raucous, capacity crowds for all three games that each stadium hosts. The excitement for postseason baseball in both venues will be palpable, and the Yankees need to ready themselves for an onslaught of crowd noise unlike what they have been accustomed to.

Key #6: Winning The Blue Jays Series 

The Blue Jays have dominated the Yankees in 2015. Toronto has won 11 of the 16 games they have played against the Yankees this season.

No matter how far back the Yankees are of the division-leading Blue Jays heading into next week’s series, it is of paramount importance that they at least leave Toronto having won two out of three games.

Last weekend against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, the Bombers looked listless, disinterested and downtrodden. Toronto capitalized on the Yankees lack of intensity, and managed to escape the Bronx with three wins in four games.

A series win over the Blue Jays would do wonders for the confidence of the Yankees as a unit. Winning two out of three games against a team that has had your number all season long, in their home park, is a tall order. However, should the Yankees manage to do it, it would invigorate a team that really could use the jolt of adrenaline that winning a series win like that would provide.

Buckle up Yankees fans, because the next six games have the potential to define the entire season.

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