Yankees Pitching Leads MLB Turnaround Amid Strong 34-20 Start

The New York Yankees are showing significant improvement in pitching and defense, contributing to their strong start in the 2025 MLB season. Clarke Schmidt has emerged as a reliable middle-rotation pitcher, delivering efficient outings with a low ERA and effective pitch mix that includes a highly deceptive curveball and sweeper. Despite losing Gerrit Cole to injury, the Yankees' starting pitchers now have the third-best ERA in the league, a marked improvement from earlier concerns. Defensive performance, particularly from the pitching staff, has been exceptional, with Max Fried and Tim Hill leading MLB pitchers in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), helping the team rank fifth overall in run prevention. This enhanced pitcher defense, combined with solid defensive contributions from position players like Cody Bellinger and Anthony Volpe, underpins the Yankees' ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard and maintain the biggest divisional lead in baseball. The team's balanced strengths in both pitching and defense position them well for sustained success as the season progresses.