While the All-Star break is still two-plus weeks away, the Yankees have already reached the midway point of their season.
Before their home series opener against the Athletics on Friday — Game 81 of 162, the halfway mark — manager Aaron Boone was asked about his overall impressions of the club, which enters the final weekend of June with the seventh-best record in MLB (46-34) and a narrow half-game lead in the AL East standings.
In one word, Boone shrewdly labeled the Yankees' campaign as "incomplete," acknowledging the few peaks and valleys they've encountered through three months of action. But the skipper still expressed confidence in the group, despite their recent downturn that's exposed some warts.
"We've put ourselves in a pretty good spot here through this first half with some of the ups and downs," Boone said. "You kind of obsess with trying to do better in everything. It's a little bit of a boring answer, but you're always trying to get individuals better. You're trying to be better as a team in everything you do. That's kind of what the work is, day in and day out."
The Yankees wouldn't be sitting atop the division — as tight as the race currently is, with the Rays and Blue Jays looming — without exceptional starting pitching, and Boone mentioned the rotation as their obvious strength. And the level of production from the unit is worthy of acclaim.
In spite of injuries to key starters, the Yankees' rotation has brushed its volatile reputation aside and exceeded expectations. Their season ERA of 3.43 ranks sixth-best in the majors, their opponents' BABIP of .262 ranks third, and their 445 total strikeouts rank fourth. They also have MLB's wins leader in Max Fried (10), a candidate to start the All-Star Game.
"I've been really pleased with how the starting pitching's rounded into form," Boone said. "Especially leaving spring training, we left with a lot of question marks around there, with two major injuries happening to our rotation. The rotation has really stepped up and been a consistent group for us."
Of course, the Yankees won't see one of their camp casualties take the mound at any point this season — veteran ace Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March. But reinforcements are on the way, as right-handers Luis Gil (lat) and Marcus Stroman (knee) and nearing returns from months-long ailments.
Carlos Rodon has also resembled his former All-Star self, pitching to a sharp 2.92 ERA across 17 starts with added pressure and responsibility. Clarke Schmidt has thrived too, posting a career-low 2.84 ERA since his mid-April season debut, and rookie Will Warren has largely stepped up as a reliable back-end option.
As for the bullpen, Boone believes the group has been "mostly solid," but still has a chance to be "excellent" in the second half. Call it a fair assessment, as the Yankees navigated an injury to Luke Weaver this month and troubling inconsistency from Devin Williams in the springtime. But, to the bullpen's credit, they own a 3.53 ERA — best for 10th in the bigs.
While the debate on whether the Yankees have been better off without Juan Soto remains somewhat fervent, the 2025 numbers clearly indicate that they've adjusted well to his crosstown departure and absence in the heart of the lineup. The offense ranks second-best in OPS (.786) and home runs (121), plus they've scored the fifth-most runs (407).
The most glaring issue from their June swoon has been poor fundamentals, both in the field and on the basepaths. Boone likes the team's balance and athleticism — upgrades when compared to the 2024 roster's composition — but they'll need to play a much cleaner and more polished brand of baseball in order to defend their AL pennant.
"I sit here very convinced that we have a really good club with tremendous capabilities, but we've got to go realize that potential," Boone said. "Now we get to go hopefully make it happen here the rest of the way in the second half, and ultimately become the team we ultimately want to be."
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