Yankees Lose the Plot… But It’s Still April: Can the Season Turn? (4/18/26) - CF28-122

On Episode 122 of Chase for 28, Chris and the podcast Padre talk through what’s been bothering Yankee fans in the middle of April—the uneasy feeling that things haven’t been clicking offensively, and that the bullpen has had its share of rough moments lately. They break down the Yankees’ current form, spotlight which parts of the lineup are producing (and which ones still need to wake up), and explain why it’s still not “panic time” even if the results haven’t looked great in recent stretches.

The episode also looks ahead to roster and lineup possibilities as key players work their way back—especially the discussion around injury rehab timelines and what it could mean for the rotation. Along the way, they celebrate standout performances, dig into strategy (and the small mistakes that swing games), and end with trivia, a shout-out to Padre’s upcoming birthday, and a look at what needs to happen next to turn things around.

Topics Discussed

1. Yankees’ early-season struggles: why “slumps” are possible and why it’s still early in April
2. Pitching vs. offense: starters holding up, but bullpen inconsistency affecting outcomes
3. Lineup concerns and batting averages (including discussions of players like Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and others)
4. “Scrappy baseball” approach: put the ball in play, cut strikeouts, keep runners on base
5. Tampa Bay vs. Yankees postseason-style moments (bunts/infield chaos, rule discussion, and defensive misplays)
6. Player return updates:
7. Gerrit Cole rehab start at Double-A Somerset
8. Carlos Rodón rehab/live batting practice and likely rehab games needed
9. Rotation roster question: who becomes the odd man out when Rodón returns
10. Ben Rice backup-catcher discussion and whether he should face more lefties
11. Mike Trout hype moment: back and producing, plus long-term “what could’ve been” injury talk
12. Standings snapshot: Yankees still clustered with others for AL wins

Yankees Trivia

1. Which Yankee is the MLB leader in 1st inning home runs?
2. Answer: Aaron Judge
3. This Episode: Which Yankees pitcher threw a no-hitter in 2021?

Bullpen Q&A ☎️

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Merch 👕

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