Yankees vs. Braves Wednesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: New York would fall under .500, hit new rock bottom by being swept

One could argue there have been a few "rock bottom" moments for the horribly disappointing New York Yankees this season, but the latest would arrive Wednesday if the Bombers (60-60) are swept in Atlanta to fall under .500 for the first time all season. Playoffs? Playoffs? Not likely at this point. The Braves are -210 favorites on the SportsLine consensus line.

Wednesday's game concludes a nine-game trip for the Yankees and every beat writer who covers the team wrote before it started that it would be season-defining and the team's last chance at wild card contention. It certainly has been defining: New York is 2-6 on the trip and has been utterly trampled though the first two games against the Braves by combined score of 16-3.

The last time the Yankees finished a day with a .500 or worse record at least 120 games into a season was Sept. 7, 1995, when they were 61-61. They last were .500 this year on May 1 when they were 15-15.

"We're not showing up," Yankees star Aaron Judge said after Wednesday's shutout loss in which New York had one hit. "That's what it comes down to, we're not showing up when we need to. Especially down the stretch right now, and we've gotten every opportunity to keep ourselves in the race. But we're not capitalizing on what we need to."

Judge has not been the same hitter whatsoever since returning from his long injured list stint, but the Yankees announced this week was that he will not need offseason surgery on his ailing toe. When he went to the IL for that toe, New York sat at 35-25. The reigning AL MVP is hitting .258 with three homers and five RBI since returning on July 28. Judge is +255 to go yard on Wednesday.

New York is 1-9-3 in its past 13 series, 6.5 games back of the AL's third Wild Card spot and +1400 to reach the playoffs, per DraftKings. That number was +700 following Sunday's gutting loss in Miami. No is now -2500 (was -1000).

Rookie right-hander Randy Vasquez (2-1, 1.89 ERA) makes his fifth career appearance and fourth start tonight for the Yankees. Last Friday was the first time Vasquez pitched on the road this year, and he allowed two runs over 3.2 innings in Miami while following an opener. Vasquez is expected to actually start here. Obviously, no Braves have seen him.

Atlanta is back to its rampaging ways offensively as the Braves hit two more homers Tuesday. The team's 230 bombs through 119 team games has tied the MLB record set by the 2019 Twins. Marcell Ozuna had a three-run shot in the first inning Tuesday, and if you aren't betting Yes Run First Inning in Braves games, you should be. Below are the team's first-inning stats this year:

• 120 runs, most of any team in any inning
• 166 hits, most of any team in any inning
• 35 HR, most of any team in any inning
• +73 run differential, 14 runs better than any other team in any inning

Charlie Morton (11-10, 3.71 ERA) will take the ball for Atlanta. The 39-year-old ended a four-start losing streak last Friday, shutting out the Mets over five innings – which was almost impossible to believe, considering he walked seven and threw just 52 of his 105 pitches for strikes. Could Judge get a night off to recharge? He's an ugly 3-for-23 with 12 strikeouts and a solo homer off Morton.

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