Yankees’ biggest weakness rounding into shape with playoff spot clinched

The Yankees head toward October with arguably their best World Series chance in years. 

The bullpen is the alleged flaw, and though one scout says their pen “is a mess,” lately it’s been quite good. 

Though the closer spot seems undecided, Tommy Kahnle has allowed no runs over six outings, Luke Weaver, Tim Hill and Jake Cousins over five apiece and Ian Hamilton over four. (Side note: Hill, Cousins and Hamilton all escaped the White Sox.) 

Though the Yankees missed on Jack Flaherty (5-2, 3.25 with the Dodgers, third in MLB in strikeout-to-walk ratio to Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal) after medical paperwork revealed an alleged lower back issue, with six viable starters, they need him less than L.A. 

Ironically, Flaherty is the Dodgers’ healthiest rotation star. Of their myriad rotation injuries, one scout says, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

Many AL teams are suffering/struggling, too, including the Orioles. The losses of Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez (possibly back for playoffs) are killers. 

At present, the Astros are again the Yankees’ biggest hurdle. 

Give the young Tigers credit for giving themselves a shot. 

Some may question trading Flaherty, but the Tigers did get an underrated return: catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo and well-regarded shortstop Trey Sweeney, originally a Yankee. 

The Yankees recovered well from the Flaherty miss, instead using Agustin Ramirez, the catching prospect discussed there, as the key piece to acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr. 

Sweeney is one of an impressive 15 players signed as amateurs by the Yankees to debut this year (13 via the draft, two internationally).