Yankees get slightly worrying 39.6% AL East projection from ESPN

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Yankees get slightly worrying 39.6% AL East projection from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are 54-42 during the regular season so far, and coming out of the All-Star break, they begin with a tough series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Things are not going terribly, but with the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays sitting atop the AL East right now with a 3.0 game lead, the Yankees do need to make up some ground in the division.

The odds of the Yankees making up that three-game ground between now and the end of the season? ESPN's Bradford Doolittle handed the Yankees a slightly concerning 39.6% projection to win the AL East.

Yankees have just a 39.6% chance to win AL East​

"Projected final record: 92-70. Division title odds: 39.6% | Playoff odds: 97.7% | Championship odds: 11.8%," Doolittle projects.

While the Yankees look to be in great shape when it comes to making the postseason, winning the AL East doesn't look nearly as good.

Doolittle gives the Yankees less than a 40% chance to win the AL East, which, at the mid-point of the season, is a little worrying.

But there's a reason why the Yankees' odds might be this low. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried are all on the injured list.

MORE: Mason Miller shares honest thoughts on Yankees trade rumors

The Yankees are down a few very key players on their roster as they come out of the All-Star break. They also have some major issues worth addressing by the deadline.

Another third baseman or shortstop couldn't hurt; the catcher spot is in dire need of an offensive upgrade, and the Yankees' bullpen has been a bit shaky.

Even though Ben Rice is an AL MVP candidate, and Cam Schlittler is the likely AL Cy Young favorite right now, there are enough issues with the team that the Yankees have under a 40% chance of winning the division.

Despite being just three games back of the Rays with 2.5 months of the regular season to go, the Yankees aren't looking very likely to make a comeback and win the division.

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