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New York Yankees Are Off To A Hot Start In 2024 – But Will It Last?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees at bat during the eighth inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 10, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles are hoping to bolster their odds of defending their AL East title with the recent announcement that baseball’s No.1 prospect, shortstop Jackson Holliday, will move up from the minor leagues to the Orioles roster.

At the same time, a familiar team from the Bronx is off to a blazing start to the young 2024 MLB season.

The New York Yankees are 10-2 to start the season, sitting in first in the AL East by 2.5 games over the Boston Red Sox. New York is pressured to succeed this year after finishing 82-80 in 2023, their worst record in three decades. Acquiring Juan Soto, Marcus Stroman, Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo signaled that the Yankees brass would not tolerate another season of mediocrity.

Although they have the second-lowest run differential of current division leaders, the Yankees have been finding ways to win in the first few weeks of the season. Five players, including Soto and Verdugo, have two or more home runs. The team is 5-0 in games decided by one run, showing that its players can finish strong. New York also started the season by sweeping the defending AL champions, the Houston Astros, in a four-game series.

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While the Yankees have won 10 of their first 12 games, they have also been hit by the injury bug. Reliever Jonathan Loaisiga announced Saturday that he is undergoing season-ending surgery. The initial injury ruling is a right flexor sprain, and the pitcher will be sidelined for approximately 10-12 months. The injury was first reported after playing in last Wednesday’s road tilt against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

During the regular season, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole has yet to stand on the mound. He has been dealing with nerve inflammation and edema in his right elbow since March. The Yankees are starting the season strong despite these crucial injuries to their rotation.

For the team in pinstripes, there are still 150 games to go in a long, long season. But the Yankees’ winnings thus far should excite fans in the New York area and hope they can navigate injury roadblocks.

On Friday, the Yankees begin a four-game series on the road versus the Cleveland Guardians.