Entering Friday, Goldschmidt had a 153 wRC+. The statistic measures runs created and adjusts to league-average (100). Last season, Yankees first basemen Anthony Rizzo, D.J. LeMahieu and others combined for a lowly 71 wRC+ — the worst in the game. Aaron Boone said that he expects Goldschmidt’s power numbers could jump, too.

The New York Yankees were dealt a massive blow when they lost Gerrit Cole for the season. The team’s ace would have to miss the entire year with Tommy John surgery, and it’s not easy to replace that kind of production.

Paul Goldschmidt carried his sizzling April into May with a three-run homer — his second blast in as many games — to account for all of the support emerging ace Max Fried needed in a sharp 3-0 victory over the Rays at the Stadium .