Oh yeah, the Yankees ran back the kind of team that could still have its ace on the injured list and just have its other ace put up 6 ¹/₃ shutout innings on Opening Day.
That’s right, they ran back the kind of lineup that could produce seven runs despite the best hitter in the world having one of his worst games.
The wide-ranging criticism of these Yankees was that they were retaining the roster from last year as if they were running back the White Sox or Rockies. Instead, they ran back a team that was playing its best as last regular season ended and tied for the AL’s top record. They have run back a roster that did not stay static last year and instead deepened as 2025 progressed — and should get even deeper this year in the coming weeks when Carlos Rodón and then Gerrit Cole return.
They used the stand-alone first game of the 2026 season to reinforce that last year’s team — even with the disappointing ending against the Blue Jays — was pretty darn good and this one could be better. On Day 1 of the schedule, they were the giants of Oracle Park.
