“Every team goes through a couple of bumps,” that’s how Aaron Judge put it. But the Yankees have hit a lot of them – six back-to-back to be precise. What seemed like a slight detour toward October now looks like a diversion down a cliff. And Game 2 against the Mets didn’t help either.

This two-game losing streak to the Mets seems less like terrible timing and more like a warning. In Game 1 (6–5 on July 4), the offense was able to flash but not stay consistent. Then, in Game 2 (12–6 on July 5), there were several errors. And Aaron Judge knows it.

In the post-game interview with the YES Network, Aaron Judge didn’t give any excuse. “It’s the little things making the routine plays, you can’t give a good team extra outs. When you give a good team extra outs and give opportunity to go up there and do something, it’s gonna lead to some runs on the opposing side.” 

The Yankees gave the Mets back-to-back chances from the first pitch. Rodon let Nimmo hit a grand slam in the first inning after loading the bases with walks and a bad bunt. And the errors continued. Dominguez misread a harmless liner, Grisham messed up a play in the outfield, and Lindor scored again. These were all routine errors, and the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Anthony Volpe’s bad throw even hit the dugout. This disrupted the rhythm and intensity of the pitching staff. The Mets kept hitting two- and three-run homers off of relievers in the bullpen who couldn’t stop the bleeding.

This time, not only Aaron Judge but the skipper is quite concerned, too.

Aaron Boone summed up how everyone felt in the clubhouse after yet another bad game. “Yeah, I mean, confusion. I didn’t know what happened initially. I just saw kind of a, what felt like something happened.” Boone didn’t hold back after their sixth straight loss: “It’s been a terrible week.”

For the Bronx Bombers, problems don’t seem to be fading away anytime soon. Because the injury bug is only adding more to their struggles.

Another blow for the Bronx: Schmidt’s setback exposes Yankees’ pitching wounds

The Yankees’ rotation has been struggling, and Clarke Schmidt’s Tommy John surgery makes things worse. Aaron Boone said that an MRI showed a tear in Schmidt’s UCL. The veteran right-hander may miss most of 2025 and 2026 after a second Tommy John surgery.

It’s a gut punch for the Bronx, as he provides stability. He went 4–4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts before being placed on the IL on July 4 due to forearm stiffness. Even in June, he tossed 28 1/3 scoreless innings. The Yankees are losing both his innings and a reliable pitcher.

And the list continues…

Gerrit Cole and Jake Cousins are out for the season, Luis Gil has a lat strain, and swingman Ryan Yarbrough is recovering from an oblique injury.

Now, Boone considers Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren the best four starters. He feels minors or trades may be needed for further aid.

What used to have depth now seems like a staff that has been cut down. Losing another arm is a warning, not a setback. To stay in the race for the playoffs, the NYY needs to start improving its weak areas – from better routine plays to better clutch hitting.