The New York Yankees offense has been one of the most inefficient in all of baseball throughout the month of August.
The Bronx Bombers have not lived up to their nickname, having scored just 39 runs in the month entering Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, the fewest in the entire league.
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The Yankees are shorthanded without three of their top hitters in Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton. Fortunately, all three are nearing their returns.
Bellinger will be the first to be activated, barring any setbacks, after manager Aaron Boone revealed a promising update moments before first pitch.
“Cody Bellinger is expected to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Tuesday. He could be active by the weekend,” reported Gary Phillips of NY Daily News Sports.
Bellinger’s return will come at a perfect time. The Yankees are losing ground in the American League playoff race, and with him back in the lineup the struggling offense instantly becomes more dangerous.
Prior to going down, the 31-year-old posted a .259 batting average, .350 on-base percentage, .770 OPS, 11 home runs and 53 RBIs across 374 at-bats, earning his third career All-Star selection for his efforts in the first half.
Bellinger originally suffered a left hamstring strain while running out an extra-base hit back in late July. He has continued participating in baseball activities since then and is finally ready to return to game action. Boone’s comments about him being ready for New York’s weekend series makes sense considering the injury has not kept him out for an extended period of time.
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