MLB released every team’s full 60-game schedule on Monday night, and the Yankees have some tough opponents to deal with this season.
With 40 games in the AL East and 20 interleague games against the NL East, New York will be looking to get a hot start out of the gate and they certainly have the roster to do just that.
However, if there is a slow start, a tight window to recover doesn't make things any easier. Every game truly matters in this sprint to the postseason.
So, after analyzing the Yanks’ schedule, let’s take a look at some of the most important matchups and what to expect this season:
Hard Opening Games
Right off the bat, there is no easing the Yankees into this season. Their first test comes with Gerrit Cole facing off against Max Scherzer and the reigning World Series-champion Washington Nationals. They play the Nats the first three games.
Then, the Yankees will remain on the road and travel to Philadelphia to see some familiar faces. Didi Gregorius and manager Joe Girardi will be looking to beat their former team with the Phillies. There’s also Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler to worry about over these next four games, two of which come in their first home series on July 29-30.
Every team wants to get off to a hot start, and the Yankees will have seven hard games from the jump to deal with.
The Toughest/Season-Defining Stretch
One could say those first seven games are the toughest stretch. Though that is true and the Yankees will need to battle through those first few games, this is the stretch I’m looking at as the toughest of them all:
- Aug. 18-20: vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3 games)
- Aug. 21-23: @ New York Mets (3 games)
- Aug. 24: OFF
- Aug 25-26: @ Braves (2 games)
- Aug. 27: OFF
- Aug. 28-30: vs. Mets (3 games)
- Aug. 31-Sept. 2: vs. Rays (3 games)
That’s 14 games against some very tough opponents, not to mention it’s right in the middle of the season where the Yankees simply can’t falter, especially if they’re hovering around a playoff spot.
These are all postseason contenders that could be in the same boat as the Yanks here, so getting through this without going into a rut will be pivotal. These will, for sure, be some very fun games to watch.
Victory Lap?
If the Yankees can get through that tough stretch, they should be able to let their foot off the gas a bit depending on how their record looks. Why would they do that? Well, just look at their opponents in September:
- Sept. 4-6: @ Baltimore Orioles (3 games)
- Sept. 7-9: @ Toronto Blue Jays (3 games)
- Sept. 10-13: vs. Orioles (4 games)
- Sept. 14: OFF
- Sept. 15-17: vs. Blue Jays (3 games)
- Sept. 18-20: @ Red Sox (3 games)
- Sept. 21-24: @ Blue Jays (4 games)
- Sept. 25-27: vs. Miami Marlins (3 games)
New York plays all of their games against the Blue Jays in September, and they aren’t expected to be division title contenders at all. The Red Sox are also missing Chris Sale, who needs Tommy John surgery, and Mookie Betts is no longer on the roster. Then, games against the Orioles and Marlins should definitely be wins.
So there is a chance the Yankees could coast their way into the postseason, or if they are in close contention for the division, be able to pull away with these easier opponents on the schedule.