3 takeaways from the Yankees' series vs. White Sox

Three takeaways from the Yankees-White Sox series in Chicago:

1. An easy schedule doesn’t mean it will be easy.

The Yankees are in the midst of the junior varsity portion of their schedule, with two games to come against the Tigers in Detroit, plus one in Williamsport, after a just-completed three-game series against the White Sox. Despite the White Sox coming into the series having lost 27 of their last 29, a stretch that included a 21-game losing streak, they buried the Yankees, 12-2, in the first game and, after getting beaten by three Juan Soto homers in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss, led 2-1 going into the seventh inning before the Yankees scored three runs and then six in the eighth, the latter outburst highlighted by Aaron Judge’s 300th career homer. Before this trip came a ho-hum nine-game homestand against the less-than-good Blue Jays, Angels and Rangers in which the Yankees went 5-4. After facing the Tigers (59-63) this weekend, the Yankees return home to face the AL Central-leading Guardians. But then the Rockies (44-78) visit followed by a trip to Washington to face the Nationals (55-67). With questions remaining about the rotation and bullpen — especially the bullpen — and the impact of missing Jazz Chisholm Jr. for at least the next two weeks, and likely longer, with a left elbow sprain, the Yankees getting hot is far from a lock.

2. If Austin Wells is in the lineup, he should hit cleanup.

The rookie catcher has done nothing but hit since the Yankees, desperate for production from the 4-hole, took a flyer by batting Wells there weeks ago. Wells, whose maturity and leadership qualities were noted by rival scouts from his early days in the Yankees’ minor-league system, quickly took to the pressure-packed lineup spot — because it comes after the lethal one-two Juan Soto-Aaron Judge punch — hitting .368 with three homers and a .997 OPS in 16 starts there. That includes a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning Wednesday night that snapped a 2-2 tie and set the stage for a 10-2 victory that will be most remembered for Judge getting to 300 homers faster than any player (the laser-focused Wells followed Judge’s historic blast with a homer of his own). It has been a small sample size, yes, but given the inconsistency at cleanup much of the season, Wells needs to stay put.

3. Will Warren may be the real deal.

Judge’s homer overshadowed just about everything else that occurred Wednesday night but Warren, an eighth-round pick in 2021, was the best he’s been in three spot starts. The righthander, a quiet but supremely confident 25-year-old from Brandon, Mississippi, has impressed opposition scouts assigned to the Yankees’ system the last several years not only with his stuff but also his utter unflappability on the mound. There is more evidence than not that the Yankees — whose track record developing starting pitchers hasn’t exactly been stellar over the years —  just might have something in Warren.