Aaron Judge homered, but the Yankees' bullpen collapsed in a 7-3 loss to the Braves on July 20. Can NY turn individual brilliance into consistent team wins?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It’s a story becoming all too familiar for Yankees fans: Aaron Judge does something historic, and the team still finds a way to lose. That was the narrative again on Sunday in Atlanta, as the Yankees dropped the rubber match to the Braves 7-3. Despite another towering home run from the captain, a late-inning bullpen collapse squandered a chance at a key series win, leaving the team and its fanbase wondering what it will take to turn individual brilliance into consistent victories.
Aaron Judge is on an absolute tear, leading the American League with a .353 average, 36 home runs, and a staggering .722 slugging percentage.
The game felt winnable for most of the afternoon. Starter Nestor Cortes was solid, if not spectacular, navigating five innings while allowing three runs. The offense, sparked by Judge's two-run shot in the third and an RBI from Gleyber Torres, kept the Yankees in the fight. But the game unraveled in the seventh inning. The bullpen, a recurring source of anxiety, faltered badly, surrendering the lead on a two-run double by Austin Riley and ultimately allowing four runs in the frame. The loss drops the Yankees to 54-45, a frustrating three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
As the bullpen struggles highlight the team's most glaring need, help appears to be on the way from multiple directions. The best news of the weekend came from Scranton, where Luis Gil looked dominant in his second rehab start. The right-hander, who has been out all season, struck out seven over 4.2 innings. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Gil is nearing a return to the big league rotation. Beyond internal options, the front office is actively searching for upgrades. Reports surfaced Sunday that the Yankees have inquired about Phillies southpaw Ranger Suárez, a dependable arm who could stabilize the rotation and take pressure off the bullpen. No deal is imminent, but it signals the Yankees are serious about adding pitching before the deadline.
Acquiring a player like Suárez will require parting with prospects, and the state of the Yankees' farm system will dictate what kind of deals are possible. While the system is ranked in the bottom third of the league and lacks the elite, can't-miss talent needed for a blockbuster, it does possess enough pitching depth to acquire rentals or solid role players. Arms like Ben Hess, along with position players like George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones, give the front office assets to play with. The challenge for Brian Cashman will be to leverage this depth effectively to plug the roster's holes—namely starting pitching and a left-handed bat—without mortgaging the future entirely.
The Yankees are at a critical juncture. With an MVP-caliber player in his prime, sitting three games back in the division feels like a massive underachievement. The loss in Atlanta was a painful reminder that one superstar can't do it all. The next ten days will define this season. All eyes are on the front office to see if they will make the necessary moves to support their captain and turn this talented but flawed team into a true contender.
