2. The schedule works in the Yankees’ favor
Left on the Yankee schedule are two ten-game home stands and an eight-game home stand, with seven more games against Toronto and six more contests against Baltimore, their biggest threats to overtake them in the division. These thirteen games will be crucial in the Yankees working to distance themselves from the Jays and Orioles in pursuit of another AL East division crown.
[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne1kL4XaOqY”]While the remaining competition is quite stout (the Yanks will face the Astros, Twins, and Mets, the former two teams both at home), the Bombers will have the chance to face inferior teams like the Rays, White Sox, Braves, and Red Sox over the course of twenty games, fourteen of them coming at the Stadium.
On Thursday, the Yankees will begin a four-game set against the Indians, looking to avenge the three-game series they dropped in Cleveland last week. In this series, New York will have much to play for in celebration of Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, who receive their plaques at Monument Park on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
In 2015, the Yankees are 32-21 at home, taking full advantage of playing in a hitter-friendly park by hitting 81 homeruns in just 55 games, all to the tune of a .793 OPS, nearly 80 points better than their output on the road.
A considerable helping of home cooking should do the Bombers well down the stretch.
