Yankees big-money stars running out time to save season

The advantages the Yankees have over the Royals are plentiful, notably how plentiful they are. They have a payroll roughly three times larger than that of Kansas City.But what that gives the Yankees is a very top-heavy roster.

And so if their most moneyed men are not going to rise to October, then they are playing on a way more even field with the Royals. And, indeed, they are now playing on an even field in this Division Series, tied one game apiece. In Game 1, the Yankees overcame that Gerrit Cole did not pitch well and Aaron Judge continued not to deliver in October.The Royals walked enough batters, the Yankee chorus members rose up and the instant replay review system really helped the home team. But in Game 2, the Yankees asked Carlos Rodon to pitch like the best-paid No.

2 starter in the sport and he was not up to his salary or the moment.Judge struggled more, and so did Juan Soto this time. And in this morass of money for nothing, the Yankees fell meekly 4-2 to the Royals and opened a door they certainly did not want to even nudge ajar. Home-field advantage is gone and now the Royals have a huge advantage in starting Seth Lugo in Game 3 on Wednesday night against Clarke Schmidt.

On Sept.10, Lugo had the best start in 2024 against the Yankees by Baseball Reference’s game score: seven shutout innings on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

That was in The Bronx.Wednesday will be at Kauffman Stadium, where the Yankees will feel not just an opposing crowd that hasn’t seen a playoff game since 2015, but their own failed Octobers since last winning it all in 2009. That postseason A.J.

Burnett started five times and had two clunkers, but three huge Game 2 performances in Yankee victories — the first two to help the Yankees seize two-games-to-nothing leads and then in the World Series after CC Sabathia and the Yankees had lost Game 1 at home, Burnett had his most vital start in a generally failed Yankee career. I mention Burnett because Rodo...