{"id":83979,"date":"2024-08-24T19:34:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-24T23:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=83979"},"modified":"2024-08-24T19:34:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-24T23:34:58","slug":"yankees-need-key-players-step-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/24\/yankees-need-key-players-step-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Yankees Need These Key Players to Step Up in Postseason Push"},"content":{"rendered":"

The month of September seeps in next week as the race for division titles<\/a> and playoff berths is quickly heating up. The New York Yankees are pressing hard with an immaculate offense and streaky dominant performance.\u00a0 New York requires all their corners to be covered offensively and defensively to ensure postseason success<\/a>. There are key players that need to step up next month if the Yankees are going to secure a good postseason position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Players in the Yankees Lineup Need Breakout Performances<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Verdugo Needs a Resurgence<\/h3>\n

All conversations regarding the Yankees’ slowed offensive production and lack of quality at-bats seem to revert back to Alex Verdugo<\/a>. Verdugo came out hot and enthusiastic to start the year, hitting at a high clip weeks and months into the season. After the All-Star weekend, things were extremely silent for the outfielder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His offensive production decreased, and his frustrations became apparent on the field. All hitters go through a slump, but Verdugo\u2019s seems to maintain a hold on him. On the season so far, the outfielder has a .226 batting average and a .288 on-base percentage. In his last 15 games, he\u2019s hitting .175 with a .269 on-base percentage and .228 slugging percentage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n