Three takeaways from Yankees' series vs. Guardians

CLEVELAND – Three takeaways from the Yankees series against the Guardians at Progressive Field:

Paul Goldschmidt is proving prophetic

The 37-year-old Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract in the offseason after a career-worst year with the Cardinals, said during his introductory Zoom news conference: “I think I can still play at a really, really high level.”

Nearly a month into the regular season, the seven-time All-Star has done that and more. After going 3-for-5 in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over the Guardians, Goldschmidt, who won the 2022 NL MVP while with St. Louis, is hitting .383 with a .922 OPS.

“He’s a pro,” Aaron Judge said Wednesday of Goldschmidt. “He takes notes. He remembers at-bats, even from a couple of years ago. It’s impressive the knowledge this guy has. We’re lucky to have him.”

The Yankees just might have something in Will Warren

It is far too early in the 25-year-old’s career to draw any long-term conclusions one way or the other, but his performance in Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss was as encouraging sign as any that the righthander could have staying power at this level.

Just about every big-league pitcher has the kind outing Warren, an eighth-round pick of the club in 2021, did in his April 17 start in Tampa when he lasted just 1 2/3 innings. The separator between those who make it and those who don’t is how they respond.

Warren, who carries himself with a quiet confidence, responded well against the always pesky Guardians lineup, at one point retiring 10 straight in taking a one-hitter into the sixth inning. The game came apart in a bizarre sixth as the Guardians rallied for three runs in what became a 3-2 Yankees loss, but Warren’s bounce back was a silver lining.

Luke Weaver might be the biggest bargain in the game

Weaver, though allowing some hard contact in Wednesday’s ninth inning (a combined 1,108 feet of outs on three long fly balls), kept his scoreless inning streak intact to start the season (13 innings). In his first full season with the Yankees last season, Weaver was arguably their most consistent and valuable reliever, posting a 2.89 ERA in 62 games. The righthander excelled late in the year, and into the postseason, after taking over for Clay Holmes as the closer. Weaver’s performance gave the Yankees their easiest decision of the offseason, exercising their club option on the reliever for just $2.5 million.

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.