New York Yankees: Preview of the upcoming Minnesota Twins series

new york yankees, jordan montgomery
May 1, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (47) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With the New York Yankees‘ disastrous homestand going 2-5, they have dug themselves into a hole that is becoming increasingly more difficult to climb out of. If the Yankees can climb out, each new series becomes even more important that they take that series. One-third of the season’s games have already been played, and the Yankees after this homestand have slipped back to fourth place 6 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

The problem for the New York Yankees is simple yet perplexing. What was projected as one of the strongest lineups in baseball can’t consistently hit the ball, hits too many ground balls that lead to double plays, and not enough home runs that they are known for. When they do hit, they leave too many runners on the bases.  Of the 20 players that have been in the lineup, 10 of them have batting averages below .200 and none above .300.

So far, the Yankees starting rotation and the bullpen has been one of the best in baseball, which is the only reason they are not at the bottom of the American League. But even that may be in jeopardy with the loss of Corey Kluber to the 60 day IL and the now wearing out of the bullpen. In addition, the Yankees hitting that now stands at the bottom of stat categories have got to turn things around and start hitting sooner than later. They will try to do that on this road trip. They will first face the Minnesota Twin for 3 games, the Philadelphia Phillies for 2 games, and end the road trip at Buffalo with 3 games against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The New York Yankees are 31-29 in fourth place in the AL East. The Minnesota Twins are 24-35, sharing the bottom of the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees suffer from underperforming hitters; the Twins suffer from everything, nagging injuries, and the worst bullpen in baseball.

Tuesday, June 8th, 8:10 pm:

The first time the New York Yankees face the Minnesota Twin this season will be on Tuesday. The Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery will face off against the Twins’ ex-Yankee Michael Pineda. Montgomery is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA over 11 games this season with a strikeout per inning. In his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, he threw a season-high 99 pitches, giving up just one earned run in the Yankee 4-3 win. He allowed five hits while striking out six Rays.

Montgomery will face Michael Pineda, who was with the Yankees from 2014  to 2017. Pineda was originally slated to start Sunday against the Royals, but forearm tightness for the right-hander ultimately led the Twins to move him to Tuesday. Pineda shouldn’t face any major limitations when he returns to the rotation. Pineda is 3-3 with an ERA  of .3.40 ERA. He is coming off on June 1st, when he lasted only three innings, giving up five runs. 

Wednesday, June 9th, 8:10 pm:

The Yankees will start their ace, Gerrit Cole, on Wednesday. He is 6-3 with an ERA of 2.26 and an incredible 104 strikeouts. Cole has been the best Yankee pitcher this season but has shown some cracks in his last two games. He is coming off a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays; he gave up a season-high five runs. In his last four starts, he is 1-2 with an uncustomary 4.30 ERA. Cole, like all of the Yankee pitchers, has suffered from a lack of run support.

Cole will face the Twins’ Randy Dobnak, a righty that is 1-5 with an elevated 6.19 ERA. The Yankees have seen the rookie before in the 2019 ALDS that the Yankees won. An injury to Kenta Maeda has moved Dobnak into his fourth start of the season. In his first start against the Royals, he took the loss; in his second start on May 21 against the Indians, he got his first win. He is coming off a May 27 loss to the Kansas City Royals when he gave up 6 runs in 6 innings.
Thursday, June 10, 8:10 pm:
The New York Yankees pitcher that has yet to be announced will face another ex-Yankee in J.A. Happ, 3-2 with an ERA of 5.61. Happ was with the Yankees for three seasons, including last year when the Yankees did not offer to keep him in pinstripes. May has not been kind to Happ; he will be looking for his first quality start since April 28. He has a 10.17 ERA across his last five appearances. His last start was at Kansas City, when he pitched five innings, giving up five earned runs. The Yankee starter will likely be Deivi Garcia or Michael King.
All of these games will be televised on the YES Network and Bally Sports North. After this series, the Yankees will move on to Joe Girardi’s Phillies.