The Yankees’ Opening Salvo: Evaluating New York’s 6-3 Start to the 2025 Campaign

Three series into the 2025 MLB season, the New York Yankees find themselves sitting comfortably with a 6-3 record. Despite coming off a frustrating loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates—a game characterized by offensive struggles against Andrew Heaney—the Bronx Bombers have shown enough promise to keep fans optimistic about their chances this year. Let’s break down what’s working, what’s concerning, and what the early returns suggest about this year’s squad.

The Good: A Lineup That Brings the Boom

If there was one area where the Yankees have delivered on expectations so far, it’s their offensive firepower. Though described as “boom or bust” by some observers, the lineup has produced enough “boom” to carry them to their winning record. The mixture of established stars and emerging talent has shown an ability to change games quickly with the long ball, even if consistency remains a question mark.

In their recent game against the Pirates, this boom-or-bust nature was on full display. For eight innings, Andrew Heaney had the Yankees completely stymied, until the lineup finally woke up in the ninth. This pattern—struggling against pitchers they should handle while exploding for runs in bunches—is something Yankees fans may need to get accustomed to this season.

This offensive identity isn’t necessarily a fatal flaw. As noted, “being boom-or-bust with the amount of boom they have in that lineup should still shake out to be a lot of wins at the end of the day and maybe even a division win.” In a sport where power increasingly defines success, the Yankees are built to capitalize on the modern game’s emphasis on the home run.

The Concerns: Rotation Questions Loom Large

While the offense has largely held up its end of the bargain, the starting rotation has raised significant questions. Two names in particular stand out in the early goings: Marcus Stroman and Will Warren.

Stroman, has stumbled out of the gate with two concerning starts to begin his 2025 campaign with the Yankees. One observer noted there seemed to be “nothing on anything that he was throwing,” a worrying assessment for a pitcher the Yankees are counting on to eat innings at a respectable clip. The hope was that Stroman could provide stability as a middle-rotation arm with a floor of “a low four ERA,” but his early performances have cast doubt on even that modest projection.

Will Warren presents a different kind of conundrum. After impressing in his season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks—a lineup described as featuring “a lot of balance, a lot of speed, good contact, power”—Warren took a significant step back against the Pirates. Despite facing what was characterized as a significantly weaker Pittsburgh lineup (“their lineup is bad,” as one host bluntly put it), Warren struggled mightily after initially looking sharp through the first two innings.

The contrast between Warren’s first start and his follow-up performance against Pittsburgh raises questions about his consistency and readiness for a full-time rotation spot. With Clark Schmidt expected to join the team for the upcoming Kansas City series, the Yankees face a decision about who to remove from the rotation. Given that Warren has minor league options available, he appears the likely candidate to be sent down, despite questions about Stroman’s effectiveness.

Bullpen: Mixed Signals but Promising Pieces

The Yankees’ relief corps occupies a middle ground between concern and confidence. While there have been hiccups—including closer Devin Williams’ struggles on Opening Day—there are reasons for optimism.

Luke Weaver has looked “great” in his early appearances, while Fernando Cruz has been described as “phenomenal.” Tim Hill has been steady, if unspectacular, providing the kind of reliable left-handed option the Yankees need. Additional reinforcement is on the horizon, with Tommy Kahnle expected back soon and Johnny Loáisiga already throwing, with a potential return targeted for late May or early June.

This blend of current performance and future reinforcements places the bullpen in what one observer called the “mid-level of concerns”—not perfect, but far from a fatal flaw.

Individual Performances: The Stars and the Questions

The Yankees’ 6-3 start suggests their star players are largely delivering. The team’s ability to win two of three series to open the season speaks to a level of consistency that bodes well for the long haul.

What stands out is the apparent gap between expectation and performance for certain players. Will Warren was hyped by “all the analytic people” as “Michael King 2.0,” a comparison that feels premature. Such inflated comparisons create unrealistic expectations for young players still finding their footing at the major league level.

Meanwhile, veterans like Carlos Rodón have shown both their brilliance and their frustrating tendencies. Described as someone who “gives up a long ball sometimes” and “has a bad inning,” Rodón nonetheless demonstrates the ability to battle through adversity and keep the Yankees in games—a valuable trait over the course of a long season.

Looking Ahead: The Detroit Series and Beyond

As the Yankees prepare for their upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers—with game times moved up due to expected cold weather—they do so from a position of relative strength. Their 6-3 record places them among the early leaders in what promises to be a competitive AL East.

The immediate challenge will be navigating a rotation in flux. With Schmidt’s return imminent, the Yankees must decide whether to prioritize talent or contract status in determining who remains in the starting five. The organization’s handling of this decision will reveal much about their priorities for the 2025 campaign.

Beyond that immediate question lies the broader challenge of consistency. Can the offense produce runs without relying exclusively on the home run? Will the starting rotation stabilize with Schmidt’s return? Can Williams settle into his role as the anchor of the bullpen? The answers to these questions will ultimately determine whether the Yankees can maintain their early success.

Conclusion: Promising but Incomplete

After nine games and a 6-3 record, the Yankees have shown enough to justify optimism without dispelling all concerns. The offense has demonstrated the power that was expected, while the pitching staff has mixed moments of brilliance with stretches of concerning ineffectiveness.

What’s clear is that this Yankees team has the talent to compete in the AL East. What remains to be seen is whether they can develop the consistency needed to separate themselves in a division that promises to be a dogfight from start to finish.

For now, Yankees fans can take solace in a simple fact: winning two-thirds of your games is a formula for success in baseball. If the Yankees can maintain anything close to this pace while addressing their early-season concerns, October baseball in the Bronx seems a likely proposition.

The true test will come as the season progresses and the sample size grows. Will Marcus Stroman find his form? Can the bullpen maintain its effectiveness until reinforcements arrive? Will the offense develop more consistency to complement its power? The answers to these questions will determine whether this 6-3 start represents the beginning of something special or merely a temporary high point in what could be a roller-coaster season.

After three series, the verdict on the 2025 Yankees remains incomplete—but with more reasons for optimism than concern.