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The Bronx Bombers are living up to their nickname in 2022, riding their booming bats to the top of the majors.
On Monday, the Yankees belted another three homers in a road victory over the Orioles, their MLB-best eighth game with at least three — a trend largely responsible for 21 wins in their last 25, a 5.5-game division lead over the Rays, and the best record in baseball (26-9).
New York’s pitching staff has been stellar — an AL-best 2.72 team ERA — but the bats have led the way, specifically those of Anthony Rizzo (10 HRs), Aaron Judge (10), and Giancarlo Stanton (12).
The Yanks have allotted a combined $56 million of their AL-leading $246.1 million payroll for their Big Three — and each slugger has delivered.
- Stanton ($23M), Judge ($17M), and Rizzo ($16M) all rank in the top eight in homers, RBI, and slugging percentage in the AL.
- It’s the first time in franchise history — 8th all-time in MLB — that three Yankees have hit 10-plus HRs through the first 35 games of a season.
- The Bombers lead the AL in HRs (52), OBP (.325), slugging (.424), OPS (.749), at-bats per HR (22.21), and run differential (+73) — scoring a league-leading 51.4% of runs via the long ball.
While the Bombers have secured Stanton (through 2028) and Rizzo (through ’23) for the time being, they notably didn’t extend Judge before the season — which could come back to haunt them next year if he demands a deal north of $200 million.
For now, a sixth consecutive postseason trip seems inevitable for the Yanks, who still seek their first World Series win since 2009.
They have the best odds to win the AL pennant (+275) and second-best (+600) to win the World Series behind the Dodgers (+475).
