Why have the Yankees been shut out five times despite being near top of many offensive categories?

BALTIMORE – The Yankees offense passes every conceivable test of being better than last year’s edition.

The metrics test, the eye test, everything.

The unit came into Wednesday night’s game against the Orioles ranked first in the American League in on-base percentage (.337), second in home runs (39) and third in runs (150) and OPS (.740).

They entered the day second in the AL in pitches per plate appearances (4.05), helping the Yankees rank first in walks (135).

Juan Soto’s addition to the lineup, of course, has had much to do with that.

And yet …

Fans continue to be frustrated by the group, with the first two games of this four-game set against the Orioles serving as the latest examples of why.

After blasting through the Brewers Saturday and Sunday – scoring a combined 30 runs in two laughers that included position players pitching from both teams on Saturday, and totaling 37 hits – the Yankees were shut out here Monday, 2-0. It was the fifth time they’ve been shut out this season.

They followed that up with a 4-2 loss on Tuesday.

“It’s baseball,” Soto said of the offense looking so good over the weekend and basically the opposite of that the first two games against the Orioles. “We’re all grinding, we’re all trying to get some runs on the board, but things aren’t going our way. We’re hitting the ball hard, they’re making great plays, they’re diving all over the place.”

Ironically, the Yankees actually hit the ball better in the shutout than in Tuesday’s loss. Monday, the Yankees had chance after chance and couldn’t come through with the big hit, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10. Tuesday those chances were few as they went 0-for-1 with RISP and left four stranded. Both runs Tuesday came on solo homers – one by Soto, the other by rookie catcher Austin Wells.

The club’s task, at least on paper, didn’t get easier Wednesday night facing Corbin Burnes, one of the game’s best pitchers (who came into game 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA).

“You gotta capitalize on the mistakes you’re going to get and, as best you, not leave the strike zone when he does have leverage on you,” Aaron Boone said before the game. “The first game (Monday), I actually thought we put together a lot of good at-bats, yesterday not as good. Hopefully we can get back to that kind of pass-the-baton and make it difficult. Continue to focus on going up there and taking a really good at-bat, and if you get a good one to handle, take advantage of it. That’s what you have to do.”

Soto has been the lone Yankees hitter doing that consistently this season, coming into Wednesday hitting .325 with eight homers, a .438 on-base percentage and 1.019 OPS.

Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Volpe have cooled after fast starts, and Gleyber Torres, Anthony Rizzo – though the first baseman did go 7-for-8 with two homers Saturday and Sunday in Milwaukee – and Aaron Judge really haven’t gotten going.

Judge, naturally, has received the most attention for his struggles, and for good reason. He and Soto were supposed to make up the best 2-3 batting order punch in the league, and they still might. But Judge, who by all accounts is healthy, has started slow from the gate. He entered Wednesday hitting .207 with six homers and a .754 OPS (Judge was 9-for-30 with three homers his previous eight games in a sign he could be getting on track).

What can’t be overlooked from the first two games here is the absence of Alex Verdugo, placed on the paternity list before Monday’s game. Boone said Verdugo, who besides playing a stellar leftfield all season has been among the hottest bats in the lineup of late – hitting .321 with two homers, five doubles and a .930 OPS in his last 16 games – was scheduled to return to Baltimore late Wednesday night and could be back in the lineup Thursday afternoon for the series finale. His absence had Trent Grisham, 2-for-22 with one homer in 11 games, starting the last three games in center with Judge shifting to left.

“It probably goes without saying,” one rival scout said, “you’d rather pitch to Grisham than Verdugo.”

Extra bases

Boone said Jon Berti (left groin strain) was scratched from his rehab assignment game Tuesday because his back “locked up,” but that the infielder was expected to play Wednesday…Gerrit Cole (right elbow inflammation) had a “pretty heavy throwing day” Tuesday that went “well,” Boone said, but the manager, beyond saying “soon,” did not have a day for when the righty would start throwing from a mound.