Following two wins in three games against the Miami Marlins, the New York Yankees have won their first three series of 2026. This is the third time in four seasons the Yankees have achieved such a feat, with the team owning a 7–2 record on the young season. These are the key takeaways from the Yankees’ series victory in the Bronx.
Ben Rice off to Torrid Start
Only the Houston Astros have scored more runs than the Yankees in the American League this season, and a big reason is because of infielder Ben Rice.
After going deep for the first time in 2026 against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Rice brought that momentum into the Yankees’ tilt with the Marlins. In the series, he added two more home runs to his season total while driving in six total runs.
For the season, Rice is hitting .370 with a 1.380 OPS, the latter mark ranking second in baseball. His 12 RBI are also the fourth most in the majors.
Plate Discipline on Full Display
The Yankees have led baseball in walks drawn the past two years with 639 and 672, respectively. Through nine games in 2026, the team is on its way to surpassing those numbers, especially after its most recent series.
Against the Marlins, the Yankees drew 30 walks, their most in a three-game series in franchise history. For reference, eight teams have drawn fewer walks all season.
After three series, the Yankees have drawn 46 walks, the third most in the major leagues. They are on pace for 828, although the 1949 Boston Red Sox hold the record with 835.
Bullpen Starting to Crack
After a near-flawless start, the Yankees’ bullpen looked shaky against the Marlins.
On Saturday, Camilo Doval allowed two earned runs on three hits in the eighth inning. He recorded a lone out before being pulled, ballooning his season ERA to 10.80. The following inning, David Bednar came on for the save. He finished the job, but he still allowed one earned run and one walk on three hits.
On Sunday, things didn’t get any better.
The Yankees entered the eighth inning leading 4–3. Three outs later, they found themselves behind 7–4 as Fernando Cruz and Jake Bird allowed four earned runs. Bird failed to record a single out and was charged with Sunday’s loss.
Next Up
The Yankees will continue their homestand on Tuesday when the Athletics visit the Bronx for a three-game set. Cam Schlittler will take the ball for the series’ first game, with Tuesday’s contest scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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