The New York Yankees have the second-best record in the American League, but have been without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for a large chunk of the season.
Stanton has been on the injured list since April with a calf strain. He played in 24 games before his injury and had a .724 OPS. He had hit three home runs before his injury, and the Yankees' offense desperately needs him back.
"Giancarlo Stanton isn't close to returning," Yankees insider Bryan Hoch wrote on Monday. "Though Stanton has resumed his running progression after a recent calf strain, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday there is 'no timeline' for Stanton to play in Minor League games. He has been out since April 24."
The 36-year-old has proven that when he's healthy, he can still be one of the best power bats in baseball. He hit 24 home runs in 77 games last season. The Yankees should have no trouble making the postseason without him, but getting him back in October could be huge.
During the Yankees' run to the World Series in 2024, Stanton hit seven home runs and helped lead the team to the Fall Classic. Right now, the Yankees' offense is struggling greatly without both him and Judge, but the entire league knows what type of offense the Yankees can be when those two are in the lineup.
However, with no rehab assignment in sight, Stanton's return may not be until the final couple of weeks of the regular season. If that's the case, the Yankees will hope it's enough time for him to get back into the swing of things and be ready for a deep run.