Why Yankees have remained among AL's best to start '25

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- Aaron Judge’s performance continues to garner historic comparisons through the season’s first month, making the reigning American League Most Valuable Player an obvious answer when examining the Yankees’ most encouraging developments thus far.

But Judge alone is not why the Yankees will enter May owning first place in the American League East. Left-hander Max Fried has been as advertised “and then some,” as manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday, pitching to a 5-0 record and 1.19 ERA through his first six starts in his new uniform.

“He’s incredible,” Judge said of Fried. “Everything that people have said about him from afar, he’s the real deal. To see it up close, and see him come out here -- especially when you lose a guy like Gerrit Cole that you can’t replace -- to sub in a Max Fried to go be that ace for us, it’s been fun to watch.”

Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt are among the club’s leading offensive contributors, while Carlos Rodón has been solid. Though Devin Williams’ struggles have been in the spotlight, the Yankees have been getting excellent relief work from Luke Weaver, Fernando Cruz and others.

It is early, as Boone frequently notes, but the Yankees are largely pleased with how they have opened the campaign -- especially considering their injury-marred spring, in which Cole and Luis Gil were among the players lost for significant periods (in Cole’s case, the entire season).

An offense that figured to experience some drop-off with Juan Soto’s departure has instead proved more potent than forecast, including record-setting performances like Tuesday’s at Camden Yards, when the Bombers hit three consecutive first-inning homers (Grisham, Judge, Rice).

No other team in AL/NL history has achieved the feat twice in a single season; these Yankees have done it twice in a month.

“You have days when the long ball takes over; it’s a complete team,” Judge said. “Guys up and down the lineup are doing their jobs, and it’s not one guy just trying to be the hero.”

After Wednesday, the Yanks had outscored opponents 177 to 125, a +52 run differential that ranks as the AL’s best.

“I thought we had a chance to still be really good offensively, just maybe in a different way,” Boone said. “I think we’re a little more diverse, a little more athletic. We’re counting on some young players emerging and getting better. I think that’s happening, and has happened.”

With the conclusion of the Baltimore series on Wednesday, the Yankees have now seen three of their four American League East rivals, posting a 6-4 record in the division thus far.

They won’t see the Red Sox until June 6-8 in New York, but with the Blue Jays, Orioles and Rays all showing mixed results thus far, there is not much to suggest the Yankees shouldn’t still be viewed as favorites to repeat as division champions.

As of Wednesday, the Yanks had a 95.5 percent chance of reaching the postseason and a 9.4 percent chance to win the World Series, as forecast by Baseball Reference.

“It still feels like anyone’s division, a month in,” Boone said. “I know the Orioles are off to a really tough start, but we also know what they’re capable of. As they get more and more healthy, you know they’re going to go through a period where they really get it going.

“We got a peek at Tampa [Bay]; I think they can really pitch. We haven’t seen Boston yet, but I think they’re a really well-rounded club. We know Toronto can pitch, and they have some star power there. It still feels wide open, still feels a little imperfect. It still feels like, pack a lunch when you go play them.”