THE BRONX, NY — For the past two games in the Bronx in which the Yankees have lost both due to colossal bullpen blowups, the lack of Yankees offense is not getting the attention it deserves.

While the Yankees did record eight hits yesterday, it marked the first time since last Thursday’s game in Houston that the Yankees recorded a hit after the sixth inning. Though the Yankees were able to outlast the Blue Jays over the weekend, behind some heroic bullpen performances, the same can’t be said for the series against the Tigers.

The Yankees bullpen has been dreadful as of late, but manager Aaron Boone believes they can turn it around, telling the media that their “Track record, stuff, who they are.” are the reason that a turn around in the bullpen is coming.

The offense needs more blame than it is getting. Through the first six innings last night, the Yankees had as many hits as they did double plays grounded into — three. Off Tigers’ starter Jack Flaherty, who had posted an ERA north of six in him most recent starts, the Yankees were held scoreless, though some calls from behind home plate did not help their case.

The Yankees lone run in Tuesday’s game came on an Austin Wells solo home run in the eighth inning. I mentioned the Yankees only scored three runs this series, all three runs came off three different solo home runs. It is very fair to say that the Yankee offense is too ‘boom or bust’ for their own good.

The Yankees are a very confounding team because they have the potential to be one of the best team in baseball, but they have not shown that they are a great team. In this “gauntlet period”, the Yankees have a 4-4 record after dropping the first two games to the Tigers. While some of the wins have been impressive, do they really move anyone to where they believe in this team making a postseason run? I can’t say that I am too impressed thus far.

Something else that should concern Yankee fans is the team’s offensive stats in ‘late and close’ situations. The Yankees rank 21st out of 30 MLB teams when it comes to performance in these higher leverage situations. The Yankees are the worst among American League playoff teams in that category and the only worst playoff team is the Chicago Cubs.

The Yankees are among the teams that lack the so-called “Clutch” gene, posting a .201 batting average, with a .299 on-base percentage and a team OPS of .656 in these situations. The Yankees inability to mount a comeback or add runs in a high-leverage scenario with a bullpen that has a 4.25 ERA this season that seems to be going in the other direction, should be pause for concern as the rest of the season unfolds.

To complicate matters a bit, but also give an accurate depiction as to really what the Yankees look like, the Yankees head to Fenway Park for three against the Red Sox — who they are 2-8 against this season — to face their three best staters, Lucas Giolitio, Brayan Bello, and Garret Crochet. The Yankees have seen all three of these starters this season already and have struggled against each of them.

The Yankees also have to fly to Boston after a night game against the Tigers, while the Red Sox will have had about 48 hours of rest before first pitch on Friday, and we all know how the Yankees play on short rest like this.

The biggest games of the season are right in front of the Yankees, but remember when the see the Twins next week, these are just the same ol’ Yanks once they see a real team.