Today on The Bleacher Creature: Sunday's series finale in San Diego opened with a historic first-inning collapse from Gerrit Cole, forcing the Yankees to play from behind. Back in the Bronx, the stage is set for Aaron Judge to face live pitching ahead of his expected Tuesday activation.
Following up on the series finale matchup we previewed yesterday, the Yankees dropped the rubber match to the San Diego Padres 4-3 after Gerrit Cole made dubious history. Cole surrendered back-to-back-to-back solo home runs to Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, and Manny Machado on his first fifteen pitches of the game. He settled down to complete seven innings, but Luis Campusano added a fourth solo home run in the seventh. Former Yankee Michael King held New York to six shutout innings, and while Spencer Jones sparked an eighth-inning rally with an RBI double, Mason Miller shut the door in the ninth to earn his 33rd save.
Why it matters
The loss drops the Yankees to 81-62, leaving them four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East with 19 games remaining. Cole became the only pitcher in MLB history to allow three straight home runs to begin a game twice in a career, underscoring persistent early-game fastball location issues. While Cole's ability to eat seven innings saved an overworked bullpen, the lack of early-inning run prevention continues to force the offense into uphill chases against elite leverage relievers.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake emphasized that Cole's execution improved significantly after the first-inning blitz, noting that the pitch location on Machado's homer was more bad luck than bad location. Conversely, local postgame analysts pointed out that relying on Cole to throw 100+ pitches to dig out of self-inflicted early holes is unsustainable entering October.
With Trent Grisham's IL stint solidifying Spencer Jones' hold on the everyday center field job, advanced metrics are contextualizing the rookie's recent clutch hits—including the RBI double off Robbie Ray and the 10th-inning single against Mason Miller we highlighted over the weekend. Statcast data emphasizes Jones' surprising effectiveness against left-handed pitching, where he holds a .220 wRC+ fueled by an elevated .560 BABIP and 91st-percentile sprint speed.
Why it matters
Jones' ability to crush left-handed pitching turns him from a standard platoon candidate into an everyday fixture ahead of the postseason. His 80th-percentile arm strength and 91st-percentile sprint speed offset defensive routes that currently register at -1 OAA in center field. If Jones maintains this offensive output, the front office faces a straightforward decision to keep him in the starting lineup even when Grisham recovers.
Aaron Boone praised Jones' maturity at the plate, specifically highlighting his willingness to stay inside high-velocity fastballs from elite relievers. Analytics evaluators caution that Jones' extreme BABIP against southpaws is due for regression, though his raw exit velocity baseline remains elite.
As we've tracked since his forearm cramp setback, right-hander Clarke Schmidt will require at least two additional minor league rehab appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before rejoining the major league roster. Schmidt is still being built up for a multi-inning high-leverage relief role as he continues his return from Tommy.
Why it matters
Stretching Schmidt's rehab into mid-September ensures his pitch efficiency and command metrics meet major league standards before thrusting him into pennant-race leverage. His eventual integration into the bullpen provides Aaron Boone with a primary multi-inning weapon to bridge the gap to David Bednar.
Aaron Boone reiterated that the team will not rush Schmidt's recovery timeline, prioritizing long-term arm health over immediate bullpen desperation. Scunts pitching coaches report that Schmidt's cutter command has steadily improved across his last two outings.
Yesterday we confirmed Aaron Judge's plans to bypass a minor league rehab assignment for a direct activation on Tuesday; today, he clears his final hurdle by facing live pitching at Yankee Stadium. Both manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman reiterated the timeline for the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, following Judge's successful completion of full outfield drills, base running, and tracking sessions in San Diego.
Why it matters
Bypassing a minor league assignment means Judge must recalibrate his timing against big-league velocity in real time, forcing Boone to manage his game workload through scheduled rest days or early defensive substitutions. Activating Judge requires corresponding 40-man and 26-man roster adjustments, which will likely result in Jasson Domínguez returning to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Inserting Judge back into the two-hole instantly restores elite middle-of-the-order run creation for the stretch run.
Ken Rosenthal reported that the front office prefers direct activation because major league plate appearances offer superior pitch-tracking data compared to Triple-A rehab stints. However, player development staff note that skipping a rehab progression increases the initial conditioning load on Judge's healing rib cage.
Building on yesterday's report of Trent Grisham's 10-day IL placement, diagnostic imaging has confirmed a Grade 2 right hamstring strain sustained during Friday's series opener in San Diego. Manager Aaron Boone admitted there is no definitive timeline for Grisham's return, acknowledging that he could miss the remainder of the regular season. Grisham had batted .203 with 18 home runs and a .703 OPS across 121 games while experiencing significant defensive regression.
Why it matters
Grisham's second soft-tissue injury of the season eliminates the team's primary left-handed center field defense option right before October. With Grisham sidelined, the outfield defense relies entirely on Spencer Jones' range and Cody Bellinger's ability to cover corner spots despite his own hamstring history. The injury simplifies short-term roster math for Aaron Judge's activation but severely tests organizational outfield depth.
Boone expressed disappointment for Grisham's timing but noted that a Grade 2 strain requires conservative recovery to prevent full tearing. Beat writers observed that Grisham's absence clears an unobstructed pathway for Spencer Jones to solidify himself as the everyday starter.
Continuing the recovery from a moderate-grade left calf strain we've been tracking, Giancarlo Stanton has advanced to full indoor batting practice and high-velocity tee work at the team's training facility. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Sunday that Stanton has not been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 regular season despite remaining on the 60-day injured list.
Why it matters
While Stanton's 60-day IL designation prevents an immediate activation, his potential availability in late September would provide a potent bench-power option or DH rotation pairing alongside Aaron Judge. His progress provides additional insurance if younger bats hit a late-season wall.
Boone emphasized that Stanton must clear full base-running progressions before live game action can be considered. Team doctors remain cautious regarding calf strains given Stanton's extensive lower-body injury history.
Since his demotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Anthony Volpe has mounted an offensive tear, hitting .625 with five home runs over his first five September games and eight homers in his last 14 contests. Overall in Triple-A, Volpe is slashing .268/.352/.530 with 11 home runs across 26 games while expanding his defensive versatility by starting multiple games at third base.
Why it matters
Volpe's sudden power display indicates substantive mechanical adjustments to his swing path and contact point following his major league demotion. His willingness to take reps at third base provides critical depth options for a major league bench struggling with José Caballero's sub-65 wRC+ second-half slump. If Volpe maintains this offensive form, he becomes a compelling candidate for a late-September recall.
Teammate Jasson Domínguez joked that Volpe 'became Barry Bonds all of a sudden' due to his pull-side power display. Minor league hitting coaches credit Volpe's flatter entry angle for allowing him to drive high velocity without popping up.
In Double-A minor league action, right-handed prospect Bryce Cunningham pitched an efficient 7-inning complete game win with seven strikeouts on just 78 pitches for the Somerset Patriots. In the same doubleheader, prospect Josh Moylan launched a 416-foot grand slam to seal a sweep.
Why it matters
Cunningham's pitch efficiency and elevated IVB four-seamer continue to validate his fast rise through the farm system. His performance underscores the pitching depth building in the upper minors, offering potential rotation depth for 2027 or valuable trade capital.
Somerset coaching staff highlighted Cunningham's improved early-count sinker usage for generating rapid ground-ball outs. MLB Pipeline scouts noted his rapid adjustment to Double-A hitters.
Yankees closer David Bednar has compiled a 1.52 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 31 saves since May 18, cementing his role as the late-inning anchor. Details revealed Sunday highlight that Bednar's primary putaway pitch—a splitter sporting a 36.9% Whiff% and .156 xwOBA—was developed under the direct guidance of Japanese legend Hideo Nomo during a 2017 instructional camp. Bednar is set to reach free agency this winter at age 32.
Why it matters
Bednar's elite performance presents Brian Cashman with a classic front-office calculation: whether to offer a multi-year contract to a reliever entering his mid-30s. Given the severe bullpen attrition caused by Fernando Cruz's season-ending injury, letting Bednar walk would leave a major late-inning void for 2027.
Front-office analysts point to the team's historical reluctance to commit multi-year deals to aging relievers following past missteps. However, teammates emphasize that Bednar's split-finger pitch design provides a sustainable, low-velocity-dependent formula for late-career success.
Reversing the formal shift to a multi-inning relief role we reported just yesterday, right-hander Will Warren is now scheduled to start Tuesday night's series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium. Warren made a brief multi-inning relief appearance on Friday against San Diego, throwing just over two scoreless frames behind Max Fried. The pitching staff is staggering Warren and Fried in the rotation order, setting Fried to start Wednesday on full rest.
Why it matters
Bouncing Warren between multi-inning relief and traditional starting assignments preserves rotation durability while managing innings limits for returning starters. While we recently noted Warren's October bullpen trajectory, starting him against a sub-.500 Rockies squad protects high-leverage relief arms following their heavy usage in San Diego.
Pitching coach Matt Blake noted that Warren's hard gyro-slider shape plays effectively in both starting and relief contexts. Beat writers observe that using Warren as a starter gives the bullpen a needed rest day before Friday's division series.
In the American League Wild Card race we've been monitoring, the Cleveland Guardians reclaimed the final playoff spot by beating Detroit 3-2 in 10 innings, while the Toronto Blue Jays fell back following a 6-1 loss to Kansas City. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox built on Ranger Suárez's recent gem by completing a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, handing Baltimore their sixth straight loss and dropping them four games out of wild-card contention.
Why it matters
Baltimore's collapse and Boston's surge solidify the Red Sox as the primary wild-card threat behind the Yankees. The Tampa Bay Rays maintain their four-game division lead over New York, keeping the AL East title race tight with three weeks remaining.
Rival evaluators note that Baltimore's recent scoreless streak highlights severe middle-of-the-order hitting fatigue. FanGraphs division projections currently give Tampa Bay a 76% probability to clinch the East.
Following his weekend recall to the majors to replace Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez drew public critiques from manager Aaron Boone for a second-inning defensive miscue that allowed a single to turn into a triple during Sunday's 4-3 loss to San Diego. Boone also disclosed that he considered pinch-hitting left-handed bat Heliot Ramos for Domínguez in the eighth inning against Padres closer Mason Miller, but chose to let the rookie switch-hitter bat, resulting in a frame-ending groundout.
Why it matters
Boone's public accountability underscores the thin margin for error as the Yankees fight for division standing in September. Domínguez's ongoing outfield defensive struggles (-4 OAA) limit his trust in high-leverage late-game scenarios. With Aaron Judge's return imminent, Domínguez's defensive liabilities make him the prime candidate for a Triple-A optioning.
Boone stated postgame that young outfielders must execute fundamental cutoff plays during pennant races. Defensive analysts note that Domínguez's first-step reaction time in the outfield ranks in the bottom 15th percentile MLB-wide.
Bypassing Rehab Assignments During High-Stakes September Stretches With Aaron Judge scheduled for live BP at Yankee Stadium on Monday, the Yankees are opting for direct major league activation over minor league rehab assignments to maximize high-leverage plate appearances down the stretch.
Rookie Outfield Production Offsetting Veteran Soft-Tissue Absences Trent Grisham's Grade 2 hamstring strain has thrust Spencer Jones into an everyday center field role, where his elite contact quality against southpaws is reshaping the postseason outfield hierarchy.
Triple-A Mechanical Resurrections Providing Late-Season Bench Depth Anthony Volpe's five-home-run burst over five games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre signals substantive mechanical adjustments that give the front office a high-upside alternative to slumping bench infielders.
High-Velocity Internal Rehabilitation for October Relief Depth As Fernando Cruz remains out, top prospect Carlos Lagrange and veteran Clarke Schmidt are advancing through Triple-A throwing progressions to provide late-inning swing-and-miss options.
First-Inning Fastball Vulnerabilities Testing Rotation Foundations Gerrit Cole surrendering three consecutive home runs on 15 pitches highlights ongoing early-outing command struggles that put additional strain on an already taxed bullpen.
What to Expect
2026-09-07—Aaron Judge faces live pitching in simulated game conditions at Yankee Stadium.
2026-09-08—Yankees open a three-game interleague series against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium, with Will Warren scheduled to start.
2026-09-09—Max Fried scheduled to make his third start off the injured list in Game 2 against Colorado.
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