Yankees Pregame Updates and Notes August 25th, 2025

NEW YORK — The Yankees begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium and Aaron Boone provided some pregame updates, and I decided to dig deeper into some observations that I made over the past few weeks.

The Yankees aren’t catching the Nationals at the right time. Washington is 7-2 in their last nine games started by Brad Lord, MacKenzie Gore, and Cade Cavalli — and New York will see all three arms in this series. Gore’s electric lefty stuff, Cavalli’s developing power fastball, and Lord’s consistency have stabilized the Nationals’ rotation, giving them a real chance to dictate pace. For a Yankees lineup that has been inconsistent against quality starting pitching, running into Washington’s three hottest arms in succession makes this series a serious test, despite what the records say.

Anthony Volpe is set to return to the Yankees’ lineup tomorrow, and manager Aaron Boone made it clear that his role will be more permanent than most had hoped. Boone confirmed that Volpe will receive regular starts moving forward, reaffirming his status as the team’s starting shortstop.

Boone emphasized that despite Volpe’s struggles, the organization still sees him as a cornerstone player in the infield and wants to give him consistent opportunities to settle back into rhythm. The 24-year-old has had his ups and downs at the plate and in the field this season, but the organization still believes in him long-term.

Fernando Cruz will be activated from the IL tomorrow. The Yankees’ bullpen has looked noticeably thinner without Fernando Cruz, whose absence has exposed their lack of depth in late-inning roles. Cruz provided a steady veteran presence and swing-and-miss ability that balanced out some of the inconsistency from Devin Williams and the rest of the relief corps. Without him, New York has leaned heavily on a small core of trusted arms, leading to overuse and a spike in blown saves and high-leverage collapses. His injury has amplified one of the Yankees’ biggest concerns: reliability when it matters most.

Despite what we may think, after last season’s disastrous baserunning showing (–17.1 BsR, worst in MLB), the Yankees have completely flipped the script in 2025. Since the All-Star break, they’ve been one of the most efficient and aggressive teams on the basepaths, racking up a +3.4 BsR that ranks third-best in baseball over that span. This turnaround isn’t just about stealing more bags—it’s about smarter reads, better jumps, and minimizing outs on the bases. Players like José Caballero, who leads the majors in steals, and Jasson Domínguez, whose instincts add another layer of pressure on defenses, have been central to the resurgence. Combined with Anthony Volpe’s ability to turn singles into doubles and hustle plays that extend innings, the Yankees’ improved baserunning has added a new dimension to their offense. What was once a glaring weakness has now become a strength that helps manufacture runs, especially in close games where situational execution can be the difference.