Rice carrying NYY amid struggles, Judge's absence
On fire over his last seven games, Ben Rice has provided a massive spark at the plate amid the Yankees' struggles. Thats' why James Schiano says the Yankees will "go as Rice goes."
Video Transcript
The struggling Yankees have desperately needed the boost, and luckily for them, Ben Rice has delivered such lately.
Over his last seven games, the first time all-star and home run derby participant has a 346 batting average with five home runs, 11 RBIs, and better than a 1300 OPS.
Just to compare that with some of his Yankee teammates lately, Cody Bellinger is five for 29 over that same timeframe and hasn't homered in nearly a month.
Jazz Chisholm is three for 18 and is trapped in what's been a season-long slump so far, and Paul Goldschmidt does not have a hit since June 25th.
That's O for his last 34.
Nevertheless, Rice has remained productive.
He put the team on his back with two home runs in a much needed victory over the Rays on Thursday as Yankees try to claw their way back into the division race in the AL East, and he homered on Monday too, the only two games in this four-game set against the Rays, which the Yankees won.
Going back exactly one more Yankees win to last Friday night against the Twins, Rice hit another home run in that contest.
So to recap, the Yankees are three and 11 in their last 14 games, and Rice has four home runs in those three victories.
It seems like without Aaron Judge shouldering the load, the Yankees will go as Rice goes, and that's not the worst place to be since Rice has truly blossomed this year.
Despite a bit of a swoon before this recent hot streak, both his 28 home runs and 956 OPS are third best in the league, and it really doesn't look like Aaron Judge will be back anytime soon either, so it will be a lot on Rice's shoulders to keep this team afloat.
Maybe his teammates can help him out along the way as well.
