David Lennon: It's early, but Yankees in World Series is virtual lock
Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Credit: Jim McIsaac
For those hoping the Yankees follow the Knicks up the Canyon of Heroes come November, don’t count on another parade just yet.
But we’re comfortable saying this much: You can pencil them in for the World Series right now. And if that sounds like too bold a prediction, take a glance at the rest of the American League, a menagerie of semi-competitive teams lining up like bowling pins for Aaron Boone & Co.
Take the White Sox, for example. They’re a fun South Side story, shaking off back-to-back last-place finishes, including the 121-loss, history-making debacle, to claim a share of the AL Central. The Sox even rolled into the Bronx this week after consecutive series wins over Atlanta and the Dodgers, the top two teams in the majors.
What happened? They got whacked, with the Yankees outscoring them, 22-7, in Chicago’s two losses. Even with Thursday night’s finale left to play, the White Sox were just more AL Central cannon fodder, just like Royals or Twins or Guardians before them. The Yankees improved to 12-2 vs. the Central in taking the series, and they did so without two injured MVPs (Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton), their leadoff-hitting centerfielder Trent Grisham and $218 million co-ace Max Fried.
On paper, those appear to be significant holes. But the Yankees entered Thursday 9-4 since Judge last picked up a bat on May 31 and still are averaging the fourth-most runs (5.77) in the majors during that span. Plugging in 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt has been an unexpected boost, as the former MVP has raked at a .382 clip (21-for-55) with five homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.087 OPS in the 13 games since Judge was diagnosed with the fractured rib.
Goldschmidt is slugging right along with the Yankees’ current MVPs — Ben Rice (20 HRs, 1.001 OPS) and Cody Bellinger (11 HRs, .860), who both were tied for the team lead with 49 RBIs. After that, Boone can deploy his deep bench to lengthen the lineup with a number of platoon options, and that wreaked havoc on the White Sox.
“Really, the offense sticks out,” Chicago’s second-year manager Will Venable said Thursday afternoon. “Just relentless throughout their order and it comes from everyone in their lineup. The ability to use the whole field, make good swing decisions, really kind of boxes us in as far as our pitching staff and our ability to attack them.”
The Yankees were a season-best 18 games over .500 (45-27) heading into the series finale, tying the Brewers for the third-best record in the majors — but most important, tops in the AL. While everyone was freaking out over the Judge injury, the Yankees steadily built a 3 1⁄2-game lead over the Rays in the division and there’s no reason to think that momentum will fade anytime soon.
“I think we all understood that a lot of our guys are out and we have to do what we can to continue to win games,” Bellinger said. “No excuses. We’re playing well right now.”
The Yankees’ plus-122 run differential also is the best in the AL by a mile (next is the Mariners at plus-20). You could argue their 9-10 mark against teams over .500 is a red flag, but consider this: The AL only has four other clubs above that low bar, including AL West-leading Seattle, which was barely treading water at 39-37. Also, seven of MLB’s top nine teams all reside in the NL.
And life only gets easier for the Yankees from here. Check out the road ahead. They finish the first half with a bunch of weaklings — the Reds, Tigers, Red Sox and Nationals — and a potential speed bump in the slipping Rays, who are 13-17 over the last month. Not only that, but the Yankees’ remaining opponents this season have a combined .492 winning percentage, which puts them in the bottom third of weakest schedules (according to Tankathon).
Hard to believe the Yankees could be playing their best baseball without Judge, their captain and three-time MVP, who probably won’t be back until late August. But they still have the mindset of a team prepared to steamroll back to October, with the benefit of little resistance.
“I feel like every year you have to develop a hunger, and most years we’ve been able to do that,” Boone said before Thursday’s game. “I certainly feel that way with this group. You can talk about it and expect it because of the character in the room, but you got to go out and let that manifest itself.
“I love what I’m seeing with these guys, and that kind of singular focus each and every day. But it’s June 18, so such a long way to go that we got to keep fighting for that.”
Occasionally, it helps to have a few punching bags around, and the AL Central graciously teed up another softie with the White Sox visiting the Bronx this week.
It’s not their fault. By the AL’s subpar standards, this already has been a great season on the South Side.
The Yankees don’t grade on a curve, however. And their $340 million roster seems well-equipped to plow through the rest of the league, with more All-Star reinforcements on the horizon.
We’re not yet prepared to say ticker tape-ready, but the World Series has never looked closer in mid-June.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
