Why The New York Yankees Are 2017 World Series Contenders

A month into the 2017 MLB season, the New York Yankees are looking like World Series contenders. They concluded April tied for first place in the AL East, sharing the best record in the American League.

Little was expected of the Bronx Bombers before the year began. Experts didn’t pick them to be among the best teams in baseball, and 10 teams were given better betting odds to win the title. But even though nearly 140 games remain on the schedule, there are plenty of reasons to believe New York is for real.

Often times, teams get off to fast starts that are unsustainable because of the amount of luck involved. That isn't the case with the Yankees, whose April was highlighted by their run differential. Outscoring their opponents by 43 runs over their first 23 games, New York ranks first in the AL by a wide margin. Run differential is one of the greatest indicators of future success, and it’s a promising sign for the Yankees’ 2017 campaign.

Divisions can’t be won in April, but that doesn’t mean the standings will see a drastic shift over the next five months. Of the six teams that sat atop their divisions on May 1, 2016, five went on to finish the season in first place. Every first-place team on May 1, 2015 went on to make the playoffs that same year.

New York has amassed their run differential and a first-place record against a difficult schedule. Playing in probably MLB’s best division, the only AL East opponent the Yankees haven’t faced is the last-place Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees have already had six games against the Baltimore Orioles, with whom they share the AL’s top record, and they’ve yet to face a team that is currently more than two games under .500. Nine MLB teams have at least three more losses than wins.

The Yankees have exceeded expectations in just about every area, and their offense has been the biggest key. A year after only three AL teams scored fewer runs than New York in the regular season, the Yankees lead the league in runs scored. New York ranks first in runs (128), home runs (37), on-base percentage (.349), and slugging percentage (.456).

Aaron Judge might have been the AL MVP in April, leading the league with 10 home runs and a 1.161 OPS. The rookie won’t maintain that pace all season long, but the Yankees don’t need him to be the league’s best player. New York’s offense has performed like a well-oiled machine without much help from two of their top hitters, and their contributions should offset any decline in production from Judge.

Gary Sanchez will return in early May after missing most of April with a biceps injury. The catcher had maybe the best 50-game stretch of any rookie in MLB history last year, and he should be a top slugger in 2017. Didi Gregorius doesn’t hit for power like Sanchez, but his impact is already being felt after playing his first three games of the season. Having recovered from a shoulder injury, Gregorius can be a top-five shortstop in the AL.

New York's offense is the reason they can never be counted out of games, even when they are facing a large deficit. The team has made a few improbable comebacks, already, highlighted by a win against the Orioles after they trailed 9-1.

When it comes to pitching, New York’s success in late innings should continue. They rank fourth in AL bullpen ERA, led by Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances. With arguably the best closer and set-up man combination in baseball, the Yankees are extremely difficult to beat when they have a lead after the sixth inning. Chapman has posted an ERA of 2.00 or less in each of the last three seasons, and Betances is the only reliever to make the All-Star team in every season since 2014.

New York’s rotation is the biggest question mark. Masahiro Tanaka is the team’s only reliable starter, based on results in recent seasons, yet the Yankees somehow find themselves with the No.9 ERA among all 32 rotations.

C.C. Sabathia had a bounce-back year in 2016, but he ended the season poorly and hasn’t looked particularly good in 2017. Not much is expected out of rookie Jordan Montgomery, who came out of nowhere to win the No.5 spot in spring training. That leaves Michael Pineda and Luis Severino as the team’s remaining hopes to have a solid rotation for the rest of the year.

The two starters were terrible in New York’s rotation a year ago, but they have the stuff to put up big numbers in 2017. They seem to be harnessing it so far, combining to go 5-2 with an ERA just north of 3.00. Only time will tell if the young pitchers can keep it up.

New York’s rotation might be it’s undoing in the playoffs, but there’s no doubt that the Yankees have what it takes to make the postseason. Several indicators suggest they will be playing October baseball, and any team that makes it beyond the regular season has a chance to put together a run and reach the Fall Classic.