Bronx Bomber Ball

After experiencing a myriad of injuries to Tyler Austin, Matt Holliday, Aaron Hicks, and most recently, Dustin Fowler, the Yankees are reportedly calling up one of their top prospects, Clint Frazier, according to Jack Curry of YES Network . Photo Credit: Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports

After a late night loss and a devastating injury, the Yankees looked to bounce back against the team with the best record in baseball, the Houston Astros. The Yankees had plenty of opportunities against the Astros’ pitching, and they initially failed to capitalize. However, after Lance McCullers was pulled, the Yankees put together an impressive run against the Houston bullpen to beat the Astros 13-4. Most of the damage was a result of base hits and a monster grand slam by Brett Gardner. Photo Credit: David J. Phillip | AP

The Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate for the Yanks, will be sending four players to the All Star Game. The Yankees depth of their farm system is evident in this, as the Thunder are currently 50-28, three games ahead in the Eastern League standings. The four representatives for the July 13th ASG in New Hampshire will be right-hander Yefry Ramirez, lefty Justus Sheffield, SS/2B Thairo Estrada, and first baseman Mike Ford. Design Credit: Trenton Thunder

Before Dustin Fowler’s tragic injury Thursday night that ended in a rupture in his right patellar tendon, he was named to the Triple-A All Star Game, along with lefty Caleb Smith. Photo Credit: Bill Tarutis/For Times Leader

The New York Yankees had a late night in Chicago but they'll have to put that series behind them as they open a three-game set against the Houston Astros on Friday night. The Astros are currently the best team in the American League and have shown little signs of slowing down. Their 54-26 record has built them a double-digit lead in their division while the Yankees are looking to reclaim a hold on their own. New York is still in free fall as they haven't won a series in over two weeks. This series will be a difficult test on an injury riddled team. Game One (Friday, June 30 | First Pitch: 8:10 PM ET) Michael Pineda (7-4, 4.12 ERA) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (7-1, 2.53 ERA)  Photo Credit: MLB.com Michael Pineda has regressed in his last few starts, putting the Yankees in dire situations before they have a chance to set the table. Despite this he is still 7-4 and has shown signs of recovery after rough patches to deliver innings. His last start against the Texas Ranger

  Grade: C+ The Yankees’ bullpen was touted as the best in baseball for most of the offseason after signing Aroldis Chapman. This allowed for a 7th, 8th, and 9th innings of Tyler Clippard, Dellin Betances, and Chapman respectively. They lived up to the hype up until Chapman got hurt in late May. Then the whole bullpen struggled through June. I’ll be honest, I had a tough time choosing a grade for Clippard. He had a pretty good April and May but June has been an absolute disaster. And Joe Girardi has continued to run Clippard out there despite his struggles.   AP Photo | Frank Franklin III

Grade: B In an offseason that was relatively quiet, Aroldis Chapman was the Yankees “Big Fish” acquisition. The Yankees landed Chapman for the second offseason in a row, this time through the free agent market. Chapman was dominant for the Yankees throughout the first half of the 2016 season before being dealt at the trade deadline to the Chicago Cubs for a package headlined by Gleybar Torres. Although there was some concern about how heavily he was worked throughout the 2016 postseason, the Yankees inked the 28 year old fireballer to a five year contract in December. Credit: Chris O'Meara AP

After a promising win last night in which included an incredible MLB debut from phenom Miguel Andujar, the Yankees reversed back to their losing ways in a 4-3 loss Thursday night.   Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh | AP

While the Major League All-Star rosters have yet to be announced, Major League Baseball released the rosters for the annual Futures Game on Thursday. The Yankees will have two representatives on the World roster. RHP Domingo Acevedo and outfielder Estevan Florial are the two players that have been chosen. Photo Credit: Martin Griff

Dustin Fowler had his Major League debut cut very short after a heartbreaking injury in the bottom of the first inning. On a ball hit in foul territory, the 22-year-old outfielder crashed into the wall, rupturing his patella tendon in his right knee, which required immediate surgery during the game in Chicago. Photo Credit: AP

The Yankees have been forced to make a ton of moves lately due to fluke injuries, and that continued to be the case on Thursday afternoon. All in all, they made a total of five roster moves: Photo via The Times-Tribune

Grade: F The third installment of the BBB’s Midseason Report Cards features former Yankees first baseman Chris Carter.   Carter was signed just before the start of Spring Training, after a long free agency provided unfruitful for the big slugger, despite coming off a year in which he led the National League in home runs.   His time in pinstripes was certainly one to forget as the big righty did little to nothing before being designated for assignment on June 23rd. Photo Credit: Seth Wenig / AP Photo

For years, I've heard about Larry Rothschild's supposed ability to turn struggling pitchers around. Since he's arrived in New York, however, Rothschild has not been able to live up to such expectations. Whether it be Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, or any one member of the current circus of relievers, the pitching coach has continuously failed to help his struggling pitchers effectively address the source of their problems. Before I go any further, I must emphasize that I believe Joe Girardi is the root of the problem, and Rothschild is an extension of his manager, but the fruit does not fall far from the tree. Rothschild has been in New York since 2011, and the results have not improved. It is now time for the Yankees to bid farewell to Mr. Rothschild. Photo Credit: John Munson/The Star-Ledger

After losing Tuesday night’s loss in heartbreaking walk-off fashion, the Yankees looked to bounce back with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound. Coming into the game, all eyes were on Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade, who both made their first career starts. Both players made immediate impacts, recording their first big league hits, and Andujar had a huge 3-for-4 night with four RBIs. That was just the beginning as the Yankee bats came alive to score eight runs, and Tanaka showed more promise, firing a quality start en route to a commanding 12-3 victory. Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh | AP

Eight years ago today, Mariano Rivera notched his 500th career save, while also picking up his first career RBI (and only one). In a Subway Series meeting with the Mets, closer Francisco Rodriguez walked Derek Jeter to put Rivera up with the bases loaded. Rivera came up to bat, with no RBIs in his legendary career and having to face one of the best closers at the time in K-Rod. Rivera worked the at-bat to a full count before K-Rod lost him by pitching ball four. The walk gave Mariano his first and only RBI of his career.   Photo Credit: NY Daily News He then went on to shut down the Mets at Citi Field in the bottom half of the ninth. His 500th career save only added to his legendary career and put a stamp on the debate of who the greatest closer ever is. Known for his wipeout cutter, Rivera ended his career with 652 saves, the most of all-time. He also ended with 13 career All-Star appearances and postseason records in saves (42) and ERA (0.70). He becomes eligible for the Hal

A day after the Yankees had reportedly expressed interest in A’s RHP Sonny Gray, the Bronx hot stove continues to heat up. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Yankees are actively seeking corner infield help and have had conversations with the Miami Marlins about their first baseman Justin Bour and super utility-man Martin Prado. Their American East rival, the Boston Red Sox, are another team that has inquired about the Marlins’ available players. Photo Credit: NBC Justin Bour would be a major upgrade for a team that has had next to nothing in first base production in 2017. Bour has been a quality bat in the Marlins’ lineup for the past few seasons, but is in the midst of his best season yet in the Majors. His .938 OPS and 50 RBIs would improve an already potent Yankee lineup, and Bour would thorgouhly enjoy hitting balls over the Yankees short right field porch for seasons to come. Bour is not a free agent until 2021, so he would not come cheap for the Bombe

Grade: D- In the second installment of the BBB Mid-Season Report Cards, Greg Bird will be under the spotlight. After missing the entire 2016 season due to injury, Greg Bird mashed in Spring Training and easily won the starting first base position. Expectations were high for the lefty slugger and most Yankee fans did not think they would miss Mark Teixeira playing first base every day. Unfortunately for Bird, he played atrociously until it was revealed that he had suffered a bone bruise in his ankle at the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the disabled list right as the calendar flipped to May and he has stayed on it ever since. Photo Credit: New York Daily News First half performance: While Bird has been sidelined with an injury for the majority of the 2017 season, his production was abysmal prior to his disabled list stint. Greg Bird proved that Spring Training stats do not always matter as he slashed .100/.250/.200 over a course of 19 regular season games and