Here are five things to watch as the Yankees take on the Marlins in Miami this weekend…

Can Aaron Judge get hot?

As the Yankees try to hold on to any glimmer of hope that they could reach the playoffs in the Wild Card spot they’ll need a spark from someone to build momentum. Aaron Boone can only get ejected so many times before they have to search for something to give themselves a boost.

Perhaps the obvious answer would be in the form of Aaron Judge. The Yankees slugger’s return has not had the impact the team had hoped since coming back from the IL on July 28. It is not as if Judge is struggling — 9-for-36 (.250) with 14 walks — but he has not really gone on a home run tear, hitting just two dingers and driving in four runs since his return. If Judge can get hot, the Yankees could surely get hot with him.

Nasty Nestor back to the IL

Nestor Cortes was scheduled to pitch on Saturday and considering the state of the Yankees’ rotation outside Gerrit Cole, getting him back healthy would have been huge. But on Friday afternoon the Yankees announced that Cortes has landed back on the 15-day IL with a left rotator cuff strain. The southpaw showed promising signs last week when he struck out eight over four innings and allowed just one run — a home run — against the Astros in his first start since May. Now, the Yankees will once again have to find a way to fill Cortes' spot in the rotation.

Randy Vasquez pitching for rotation spot?

The Yankees are expected to recall right-hander Randy Vasquez to start Friday’s game against the Marlins after optioning Nick Ramirez to Triple-A on Thursday. Vasquez has made three previous spot starts for the Yankees this season, pitching to a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 innings. But Friday’s start may be the 24-year-old’s most important as he could be their next best option to replace a struggling Luis Severino in the rotation. Severino’s ERA has ballooned to 8.06 and with Carlos Rodon currently on the IL and Domingo German out for the season, Vasquez could very well earn a spot in the rotation if he pitches well.

Popular in the Community