MLB Series of the Week: New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies

With the MLB trade deadline just around the corner, two of baseball’s five best teams will meet from Monday to Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Yankees and Phillies have already been in action before the deadline, acquiring pieces to supplement their stars as the season approaches its final two months.

New York Yankees (62-45, second in the AL East)

The Yankees were swept in the Bronx by the visiting New York Mets from Tuesday to Wednesday and took two of three from the Red Sox in Boston from Friday to Sunday.

With the Yankees lacking support for their two MVP candidates, outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, they acquired 2022 All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins on Saturday for three prospects.

Chisholm is on pace for the worst full season in his career with a .726 OPS and a 100 OPS+, but he did not get any protection from the rest of the Marlins lineup, as no other hitter with at least 80 at-bats with the Marlins in 2024 has an OPS+ greater than 93.

The Yankees have mostly struggled offensively in the infield, but Chisholm, who has played center field, second base and shortstop, is open to playing third base, which is where manager Aaron Boone wants him.

However, second baseman Gleyber Torres, who is struggling with a 92 OPS+, does not want to move to the hot corner, where DJ LeMahieu is on pace for the worst season of his career with a 41 OPS+ and Oswaldo Cabrera isn’t that more inspiring with an 82 OPS+.

Some more help is on the way for the Yankees, as designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who ranks third on the team with 18 home runs, was activated off the injured list on Monday.

Without Stanton, who has not played since June 22 due to a strained hamstring, the Yankees had the second-worst record in the majors at 11-18.

On the mound, Luis Gil has given up only three earned runs in his last three starts after giving up 16 in the three before, and he has relied on his slider more, throwing it more than his four-seam fastball in each of his last two starts.

Gerrit Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, has looked like a shell of himself in 2024, giving up at least four earned runs in three of his six starts in 2024, and Nestor Cortes has received some trade consideration.

In the bullpen, closer Clay Holmes continued his volatile season by blowing a save on Friday, and then recording six outs while only allowing one baserunner on Saturday, which was his longest outing of 2024.

Philadelphia Phillies (65-40, first in the NL East)

The Phillies lost two of three on the road against the Minnesota Twins and dropped two of three to the Cleveland Guardians at home last week.

With them losing their last four series and first three since the All-Star break, Philadelphia acquired a reinforcement for two-time MVP Bryce Harper and three-time All-Star shortstop Trea Turner, among others in the offense.

On Friday, the Phillies acquired 2023 All-Star outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles for relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache.

Hays, who has a 99 OPS+ in 2024, fits in an outfield that has seen Brandon Marsh continue to find a home in Philadelphia and Nick Castellanos has been okay with a 97 OPS+.

The biggest impact that Hays could offer is a postseason bat, where Johan Rojas had only four hits in 43 at-bats in the Phillies’ 13 postseason games in 2023.

Elsewhere offensively, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber slugged three home runs last week, including two on Sunday, but Turner is just seven for 38 since the All-Star break.

Catcher J.T. Realmuto has only two hits in 17 at-bats since returning from the injured list on July 20.

As for pitching, Zack Wheeler has only given up four runs in 31 ⅔ innings in his last five starts, continuing his Cy Young-caliber campaign, and Aaron Nola has recorded a quality start in six of his previous seven outings.

Cristopher Sánchez earned a four-year, $22.5 million extension on June 22, and in 2024, he has a 3.05 ERA and his first All-Star appearance.

The Phillies’ bullpen has struggled lately outside of All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, and so on Saturday, they acquired closer Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels for two prospects.

Estévez, an All-Star in 2023 who’s having a better season in 2024, will maybe offer some closing stability to a team whose manager, Rob Thomson, does not give his bullpen roles and whose leader in saves, Jose Alvarado, has only 13, which ranks 26th in the majors.

Projected Starters (per ESPN)

Game 1 (July 29, 6:40 p.m. EST): RHP Luis Gil (10-5, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.55 ERA).

Game 2 (July 30, 6:40 p.m., TBS): RHP Gerrit Cole (3-2, 5.40) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (11-4, 3.44).

Game 3 (July 31, 12:35 p.m.): LHP Nestor Cortes (4-9, 4.13) vs. LHP Cristopher Sánchez (7-6, 3.05).

All stats and records are as of before the evening games on July 29, 2024.

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.