Yankees Seek Offensive Boost From Bottom of Lineup vs. Athletics

New York looks to improve hitting with runners in scoring position in series finale

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:22am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting a baseball game in motion, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes.The Yankees' search for offensive consistency at the bottom of their lineup is reflected in a cubist-inspired illustration capturing the dynamic tension of a baseball game.Houston Today

The New York Yankees have struggled to get production from the bottom of their lineup and have had difficulty driving in runs with runners in scoring position, issues they hope to address in the final game of their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Why it matters

The Yankees have gotten off to a strong 7-4 start, but their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and get contributions from the lower third of their batting order could become a concern if it continues. Improving in these areas will be crucial as they look to maintain their early-season momentum.

The details

In their 3-2 loss to the A's on Wednesday, the Yankees went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and struck out a season-high 15 times. Bottom-of-the-order hitters like Ryan McMahon (2-for-26, .077) have struggled, with the Yankees' 7-9 hitters combining to hit just .144 (16-for-111) so far this season.

  • The Yankees have lost two of their past three games after winning seven of their first eight.
  • In Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Marlins, the Yankees finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

The players

Aaron Boone

Manager of the New York Yankees.

Cody Bellinger

Outfielder for the New York Yankees who hit an RBI single in Wednesday's loss.

Ben Rice

Infielder for the New York Yankees who struck out four times in Wednesday's game.

Ryan McMahon

Infielder for the New York Yankees who is batting .077 (2-for-26) to start the season.

Brent Rooker

Outfielder for the Oakland Athletics who hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of Wednesday's win.

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What they’re saying

“The story was we didn't score when we had a chance to throw a knockout punch there early. Just couldn't break through and they held us down. Just one of those nights where we didn't do enough.”

— Aaron Boone, Manager, New York Yankees

“(Tuesday) was a tough loss. It says a lot about these guys to bounce back and get the W. The bullpen was huge.”

— Jeff McNeil, Second Baseman, Oakland Athletics

What’s next

The Yankees will send left-hander Ryan Weathers to the mound on Thursday, hoping he can continue the team's strong starting pitching and get deeper into the game than his previous outing. The A's will counter with Jeffrey Springs, who has been effective in his time with the team.

The takeaway

The Yankees' early-season success has been tempered by their struggles at the bottom of the lineup and with runners in scoring position. Addressing these issues will be crucial as they look to maintain their position atop the AL East standings.