What happened: The New York Yankees have surrendered 29 unearned runs over their last 15 games, marking the franchise's highest total in any 15-game span since 1935. The historic fielding slump has drawn sharp criticism regarding the team's fundamentals and lack of focus.
Why it matters: These defensive breakdowns are magnifying issues for a club that has dropped four of its last five contests to fall to 49-39 on the year. Giving opponents extra outs places additional stress on the pitching staff, which is especially costly while trying to navigate a competitive divisional race against the 52-34 Tampa Bay Rays.
By the numbers: New York has generally outscored opponents 4.8 to 3.9 on average this season, but their recent 1-4 stretch highlights the impact of extended innings. Tampa Bay is listed as a favorite over the Yankees with a 7.5-run total.
What to watch: Watch to see if the Yankees can clean up their fielding and limit extra outs in their scheduled matchup against the Rays.