Yankees Offense Struggles in Cold Series vs Tigers + Marcus Stroman Injury Update

The Yankees' offense froze up against the Tigers, Marcus Stroman had a nightmare outing before heading to the IL, and Ben Rice continues to shine. Here's a full recap of the Yankees' recent games and what's next.

Game 1 vs. Detroit Tigers – Yankees Offense Goes Cold

All three games of the series against the Detroit Tigers were moved up to day games due to freezing temperatures and snow. It was surreal to see snow falling during a baseball game—and it looked like it froze the Yankees' bats too. They dropped Game 1 with a 6–2 loss.

Game 2 – Yankees Shut Out by Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal

I was curious to see how the Yankees' revamped offense would handle Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, and it was rough. Skubal dominated, going 6 innings with 4 hits allowed and 6 strikeouts. The Yankees couldn’t get anything going and lost 5–0.

Game 3 – Yankees Offense Wakes Up Just in Time

After two quiet games, the Yankees' offense finally came alive. They managed to score early and held off a late push by the Tigers. Thanks to some clutch bullpen work, the Yankees took the final game of the series 4–3.

Game 1 vs. San Francisco Giants – Marcus Stroman Struggles Before Injury News

This game started in the worst possible way. Marcus Stroman couldn’t find the strike zone and was pulled after just 0.2 innings and 40+ pitches. Before the Yankees even stepped up to the plate, they were down 5–0. The game ended in a brutal 9–1 loss.

Marcus Stroman Injury Update

After the game, it was revealed that Stroman is headed to the IL with an inflamed knee. It’s unclear how much that has affected his early-season performance, but it might explain his velocity drop—his pitches are topping out at just 89 mph. Without velocity or command, it’s hard to imagine Stroman staying effective in the majors. Just three starts in, I’m already second-guessing defending him in the offseason.

Game 2 vs. Giants – Ben Rice Continues to Impress

Ben Rice, once again, stole the show. As of today, he has better stats than Juan Soto (yes, it’s early, but still!). Less than 20 games into the season, and he’s already looking like the Yankees’ second-best hitter. The team bounced back to win 8–4.

Final Thoughts – Can the Yankees Stay Hot?

The Yankees offense has looked both ice-cold and red-hot this week. With Marcus Stroman hitting the IL and young bats like Ben Rice stepping up, the team is at a turning point. If the offense can stay consistent and the rotation holds up, this team still has major potential. The next week the Yankees play the Kansas City Royals, and then have an important 4 game series against a divisional opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Stay tuned for more Yankees game recaps, injury updates, and player breakdowns all season long.