Yankees' deeper issues coming to light during five-game slide

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In another too-quiet postgame clubhouse, Aaron Judge added to the silence with a long, reflective pause.

About the Yankees’ misfiring offense, the captain suggested a simplified approach.

“Hunt the pitch that we’re looking for and pass the baton’’ by drawing a walk, if necessary, Judge said after a lost weekend at Tropicana Field.

“We didn’t get a lot of traffic when we needed to in this series,’’ said Judge, after the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep with Sunday’s 5-4 win.

A team that charged to an 8-2 record out of the gate – due in large part to outstanding pitching – arrives home Monday having lost five straight games.

“(Some) tough at-bats down the stretch to give ourselves a chance,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, including Judge’s two-run homer in the ninth - his first RBI in 30 plate appearances.

“We can talk all about it,'' Boone said of a better-than-they've-shown offense. But, "we’ve got to go out and finish off some games.’’

Yankees' woes with runners on base

Apr 12, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

During this weekend back at the Trop, the Yankees batted .130 (3-for-23) with runners in scoring position, and they’re 4-for-33 (.121) during this losing streak.

With his array of well-executed cutters and sinkers, Rays’ righty Drew Rasmussen blanked the Yanks on one hit through six innings – lowering his career ERA to 1.03 vs. the Yanks (7 games).

For a second straight start, Cam Schlittler lasted five innings and yielded three runs.

“I’ve got to be better there,’’ said Schlittler, putting it on his shoulders. “I was supposed to pick them up and I didn’t.’’

Though the Yanks rallied against Tampa Bay’s bullpen, the Yanks were constantly pressured by Tampa Bay’s “Small Ball’’ style, headlined by the slashing and daring of speedster Chandler Simpson.

Even in the one game he didn’t start this weekend, Simpson bunted for a hit and scored the winning run in Saturday’s 10th inning.

“Definitely a guy you want to keep off the bases, but he put together a really good series,’’ Boone said of Simpson, 3-for-4 with a triple, stolen base and an RBI on Sunday.

Yankees' roster limitations

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Lobel’s Pastrami Fries at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Sweet P Bakery at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Fuku Lucky Fries at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table pasta plates at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Nuchas empanadas at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Mister Softee apple pie nachos at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table mozzarella en carrozza at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Streetbird sticky que chicken sandwich at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Bondi Sushi Bar at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Brooklyn Dumpling Shop at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Lobel’s USDA prime steak sandwich at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; MVP burger at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Colony Grill pizza at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Treathouse at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Nuchas empanadas at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni makes an affogato (Mr. Softee vanilla panna, Nutella, espresso) at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Lobel’s Pastrami Fries at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Sweet P Bakery at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Fuku Lucky Fries at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table pasta plates at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Nuchas empanadas at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Mister Softee apple pie nachos at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table mozzarella en carrozza at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni’s Parm to Table at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Streetbird sticky que chicken sandwich at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Bondi Sushi Bar at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Brooklyn Dumpling Shop at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Lobel’s USDA prime steak sandwich at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; MVP burger at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Colony Grill pizza at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Treathouse at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Nuchas empanadas at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Christian Petroni makes an affogato (Mr. Softee vanilla panna, Nutella, espresso) at the Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

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See new food options at Yankee Stadium in 2026 in photos

Mar 31, 2026; Bronx, NY, USA; Yankee Stadium concessions preview.

Anthony Volpe (shoulder surgery rehab) could be ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week, putting him about two weeks away from taking over shortstop from Jose Caballero (batting .146).

Jasson Dominguez is batting .354 at Triple-A, where slugging Spencer Jones has an .815 OPS and you wonder how long of a rope center fielder Trent Grisham (.133 average, .528 OPS) gets this first half.

But beyond the sporadic offense and being swept by a team that hit exactly one home run – in Friday’s first inning – all weekend, the Yanks had other issues.

Yes, it wasn’t a good look when Jazz Chisholm said he didn’t know the force play rule regarding Saturday night’s 10-inning Rays win.

Regardless, there was a remote chance of extending the game. Boone said he believed Chisholm knew the rule but would speak with him about it.

More concerning is Boone’s ability to make better late-game pinch-hitting and defensive switches with this current roster.

It’s hard to carry veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, more of a specialist against lefty pitching, when there’s a need for more infield flexibility.

Plus, Boone passed up a chance to pinch-hit Goldschmidt for the (now-for-12) Randal Grichuk on Saturday night, and third baseman Ryan McMahon’s slow start (4-for-35) has also created an issue.

Goldschmidt was the last man on the bench in Sunday’s ninth, with runners at first and second, when McMahon grounded out on a first-pitch changeup by Rays righty Mason Englert to end it.

“I’ve been a little late on the fastball,’’ McMahon said of anticipating a heater, only to be “a little bit out front’’ on the changeup.

That’s how it’s going lately, and not just for McMahon.

“We’ve got a number of guys we’ve got to get going,’’ said Boone.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' deeper issues coming to light during five-game slide