Yankees first-half report card: From Aaron Judge and Juan Soto’s straight A’s to veteran flunking

The Yankees spent 75 days in first place in the AL East during the first half, and even after a brutal 6-17 skid late, they could have and should have entered the break atop the division. Instead, a crushing loss to the Orioles on Sunday left them one game out of first with 64 games to play. Here’s how the Yankees graded out through their first 98 games:

Remember his quiet April? Opponents have been paying for it ever since, with the center fielder putting together another MVP-type season with 34 home runs and a 1.112 OPS.

The “generational” talent has lived up to the billing while forming a 1-2 punch with Judge, even after surviving two injury scares (forearm and hand).

A dominant May was followed by a concerning three-game stretch, but Gil bounced back in his last two starts to lower his ERA to 3.17.

Re-signed as starting depth, Weaver has found a niche in the bullpen, where he has become one of Aaron Boone’s most trusted high-leverage arms and a multi-inning threat.

Bounced back nicely from an injury-plagued 2023, but would be even better if he could be as good on the road (6.04 ERA) as he is at home (1.81 ERA).