The New York Yankees have been without Giancarlo Stanton for most of the season, and he may not be coming back this year.
Stanton strained his other calf while running as he attempted to come back from his previous calf injury. He is reportedly unlikely to return this season, and the question is what that does to the Yankees' World Series odds. The Yankees have cut their deficit to the Tampa Bay Rays to just three games and are real contenders to win the American League for the second time in the last three seasons.
The Yankees have been battling injuries all season, but the hope was that they would be healthy for October. They just got Cody Bellinger back and could get Aaron Judge back in a couple of weeks. Max Fried's injury is not believed to be serious, so he should be back as well. However, not getting Stanton back is a huge blow.
He has proven time and time again that when he's in the lineup, he is capable of putting up big numbers. He had seven home runs in the 2024 postseason and was a huge part of the Yankees reaching the World Series. However, the Yankees don't really need him to win it all.
Judge's return will be the most impactful return for the Yankees. They've been very good this year without him and Stanton, and getting just one back should be huge, but the biggest reason Stanton's absence won't cost them the American League is their pitching staff.
The Yankees' biggest asset this year is their pitching. Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are a great group of starters for the postseason, and the bullpen has been one of the best in baseball this season. Judge will add enough to the offense, and Stanton's injury will allow Judge to serve as a designated hitter. That will help keep him healthy after returning.