Yankees Seek Pitching Help, Alcantara's Performance Raises Concerns

The New York Yankees are facing challenges with injuries depleting their starting rotation, notably with Gerrit Cole out for the season, prompting speculation about acquiring ace Sandy Alcantara—though recent struggles and potential pitch tipping raise concerns. Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon has emerged as a crucial and reliable starter, delivering a string of quality outings and showcasing improved command and effectiveness, particularly with his slider. Offensively, while Aaron Judge continues to carry the lineup amid Giancarlo Stanton's absence, the Yankees remain one of the better hitting teams, though their high strikeout rate and reliance on Judge highlight the need for more consistent contributions. Encouragingly, the Yankees' farm system is showing progress, with several homegrown left-handed hitters now contributing at the major league level, signaling internal improvement after years of limited success in developing position players. The team maintains first place in the AL East, but the road ahead is expected to remain challenging unless both pitching depth and offensive balance improve.