NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their seven-game road trip today with the final game of a three-game set at Minnesota (0-2 thus far)…will also play a four-game series at Texas from Thurs.-Sun…went 5-5 on their recent season-high 10-game homestand, going 2-1 vs. Los Angeles-AL, 2-2 vs. Minnesota and 1-2 vs. Toronto.
Have lost a season-high three straight games…marks their longest losing streak since a three-game streak from 8/31-9/3/22…have not lost four straight games since a five-game losing streak from 8/2-7/22.
Have lost four of their last five games (since 4/21) after going 6-3 in their previous nine games from 4/11-20.
Have lost two straight series after winning or splitting each of their first six series of the season.
Are 7-3 following a loss this season.
Are in a 16-day stretch without an off day (4/18-5/3)… are 3-5 so far over that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Twins, 6-2, on Tuesday at Target Field…LHP Nestor Cortes (5.0IP, 5H, 4R/3ER, 1BB, 6K) recorded his first loss of the season after allowing a season-high 4R, snapping a 16-start streak of allowing 3R-or-fewer…3B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-4, 1RBI) hit an RBI single in the first inning…LF Aaron Hicks (1-for3, 1R) snapped an 0-for-15 stretch and scored the club’s second run of the game in the fifth…SS Anthony Volpe (2-for-4) and DH Willie Calhoun (2-for-4) each picked up multi-hit games…RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 2H, 2ER, 2K, 1HR) allowed 2ER after allowing just 2R/1ER over his first eight appearances of the season…LHP Nick Ramirez (2.0IP, 1H, 2BB, 1K) made his Yankees debut and did not allow a run in 2.0 innings of relief.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.25 ERA this season, the third-lowest in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s 2.82 ERA and Minnesota’s 3.16 ERA… their 3.50 runs per game are also the third-fewest in the Majors (Tampa Bay – 2.88 and Minnesota – 3.42).
Have allowed just 84R in 24 games this season, marking their third-fewest runs allowed through their first 24 games in a season in the last 42 years since 1982 (68R in 2022 and 78R in 2003).
Have allowed at least 5R in each of their last three games and four of their last five games (since 4/21) after doing so just four times over their first 19 games of the season…have allowed 3R-or-fewer in 14-of-24 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in 10 of those games.
Also rank third in the Majors in WHIP (1.16), fourth in strikeouts (228), opponents’ BA (.218) and opponents’ OBP (.296), and fifth in K/9.0IP (9.63).
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu hit an RBI single in the first inning on Tuesday at Minnesota…is 7-for-12 (.583) with 1 double, 2RBI and 1BB over his last four games since 4/22.
Is batting .351/.442/.514 (13-for-37) with 6R, 3 doubles, 1HR, 6RBI, 4BB and 2HP in his last 11 games (since 4/11).
Has reached base in 16-of-20 games this season, batting .296/.375/.493 (21-for-71) with 12R, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2HR, 9RBI, 7BB and 2HP.
Is hitting .412/.474/.529 (7-for-17) with 2 doubles, 7RBI and 2BB with RISP this season.
In 24 career games vs. Minnesota, has hit .333/.373/.495 (31-for-93) with 14R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 16RBI, 6BB and 1HP.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have been held homerless in back-to-back games for the first time this season after homering in 19 of their first 22 games of the season…their 30HR are still the fifth-most in the AL.
CENTRAL PERK: Since 2022, the Yankees are 29-13 (.690) vs. the AL Central…are 40-17 in their last 57 games vs. the division (since 6/23/21) and 53-23 in their last 76G (since 9/12/19).
PUT THE BROOMS AWAY: The Yankees are looking to avoid being swept for the first time this season…have not been swept by the Twins since 8/19-20/1998 (0-2 at Minnesota)…have not been swept by the Twins in a series of at least three games since 9/6-8/91 (0-3 at Minnesota).
FUN IN THE SUN: The Yankees are 9-3 in day games this season.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has reached base in 12 of his last 13 games, reaching base in 21-of-54 plate appearances (12H, 9BB) over that stretch.
Has reached base multiple times in seven of his last 11 games, posting a .404 OBP in that span.
Is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts…joins Corbin Carroll (10-for-10) and Cedric Mullins (9-for-9) as the only three players in the Majors to be 8-for-8-or-better in stolen base attempts.
His 8SB are tied for the fifth-most in the Majors.
His 14BB are tied for the eighth-most by a Yankee through his first 24 career games, trailing Jerry Coleman (19BB in 1949), Fritz Maisel (18BB in 1913), Truck Hannah (17BB in 1918), Bernie Williams (17BB in 1991), Charlie Keller (16BB in 1939), Otto Vélez (16BB from 1973-74) and Ed Hahn (15BB in 1905).
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has 17BB in 23 games this season, tied for the third-most in the AL and tied for the sixth-most in the Majors…did not record his 17th walk in 2022 until his 69th game of the season on 6/30/22 at Houston.
Has reached base in each of his last five games, going 5-for-18 with 2R and 3BB in that span.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo is batting .300/.373/.550 (18-for-60) with 8R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 7RBI, 4BB and 3HP in his last 16 games (since 4/9).
Has reached base in 19 of his first 23 games this season… has recorded a hit in 18-of-23 games this year.
TWINNING: The Yankees are 100-42 (.704) vs. Minnesota since 2002, the Majors’ best record by any team vs. an opponent in its own league in that span…including the postseason, have gone 116-44 (.725) vs. the Twins since 2002.
Are 15-7 in their last 22 games vs. the Twins (since 7/23/19) and 25-11 in their last 36 games vs. Minnesota (since 9/18/17).
Their current series loss vs. the Twins is their first since 9/10-12/18 (went 1-2 at Target Field)…had gone 7-0-1 in their previous eight series against the Twins…also marks just their third series loss in their last 18 series vs. the Twins since 7/3/14 (are 14-3-1 in that span).
With a 2-4 record vs. the Twins this season, have lost their first season series vs. the Twins since 2001…had won or split each of their previous 20 season series with the Twins (going 18-0-2 from 2002-22)…also snapped their streak of 15 straight winning seasons vs. the Twins… according to Elias, their streak was tied for the fourth-longest streak vs. a single opponent in franchise history… trailed only their 37-season streak vs. the Athletics (1932- 68), 21-season streak vs. the Senators/Twins (1944-64) and 18-season streak vs. the Browns (1926-43)…also recorded a 15-season streak vs. the Red Sox (1923-37).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DOMINGO GERMÁN (1-2, 4.50 ERA)
RHP Domingo Germán will make his fifth start of the season in today’s series finale at Minnesota…the 30-year-old will start on regular four days’ rest… suffered his second loss of the season last Friday vs. Toronto, allowing 4ER over 6.0IP (5H, 2BB, 6K, 2HR)…marked his second start this season with at least 4ER (recorded two such outings in 14 starts in 2022)…allowed all 4R via the home run, surrendering a two-run HR to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning and a two-run HR to Brandon Belt in the sixth…in 2022, went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…allowed 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 consecutive starts from 7/27-9/30/22…missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome…in six seasons with the Yankees, is 27-22 with a 4.36 ERA (427.2IP, 207ER) and 448K in 95 career games (73 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.
LAST TIME OUT: Suffered his second loss of the season last Friday vs. Toronto, allowing 4ER over 6.0IP (5H, 2BB, 6K, 2HR)…marked his second start this season with at least 4ER (recorded two such outings in 14 starts in 2022)…allowed all 4R via the home run, surrendering a two-run HR to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning and a two-run HR to Brandon Belt in the sixth…marked the fourth time this season a Yankees starter surrendered multiple home runs in a game…after allowing a single to Kevin Kiermaier in the second inning, retired his next 12BF before surrendering a one-out walk to Matt Chapman in the sixth.
VS. MINNESOTA: Is 2-0 with a 4.55 ERA (27.2IP, 14ER) and 34K in six career games (four starts) vs. Minnesota.
Tossed a career-high 11K in his last start against the Twins on 4/15/23 at Yankee Stadium (W, 6.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB).
Has made one career appearance at Target Field, surrendering a career-high 8ER on 7/23/19 (3.2IP, 9H, 2BB, 3K, 3HR, 2HP).
Has thrown 6.0-or-more innings in three of his four career starts against the Twins.
Is 6-4 with a 4.65 ERA (81.1IP, 42ER) and 95K in 18 career appearances (13 starts) against AL Central teams.
ON THE ROAD: In 49 career games (38 starts) on the road, is 14-13 with a 4.82 ERA (222.1IP, 119ER) and 215K.
Will make his second road start of the season…allowed 2R/1ER in 3.0IP (ND, 2H, 5BB, 0K) in his first road start of the year on 4/10 at Cleveland… in 2022, went 0-4 with a 3.46 ERA (39.0IP, 37H, 16R/15ER, 9BB, 30K, 6HR) in eight road appearances (seven starts).
Allowed 2R-or-fewer in a career high four consecutive road starts from 7/27-8/27/22…allowed 1R-or-fewer in three consecutive road starts from 8/6-8/27/22, tied for the longest such streak of his career (also recorded three such starts from 4/28-5/20/21). 2023: Will make his fifth start of the season…is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA (20.0IP, 10ER) and 25K in four starts this season…has recorded at least 8K with 0BB in two starts.
Allowed 1ER-or-fewer in back-to-back starts on 4/10 at Cleveland and 4/15 vs. Minnesota, tying the longest such streak of his career…marked the sixth time in his career he’s recorded consecutive such starts.
His 25K are the most strikeouts he’s recorded through his first four starts of a season in his career.
Has allowed 1BB-or-fewer in 10 of his last 15 starts (since 8/6/22 at St. Louis), including 2BB-orfewer in 13 of those starts.
Earned his first win of the season on 4/15 vs. Minnesota after recording a career-high 11K (6.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB)…marked his third career double-digit strikeout game (also 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston and 6/14/18 vs. Tampa Bay)…marked the first time in his career he’s recorded at least 10K without surrendering a walk…marked his fifth career start with at least 8K and 0BB allowed, including his second this season (8K and 0BB on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia)……is the first Yankee to record at least 10K and 0BB in a game this season and the first since Gerrit Cole did so on 7/17/22 vs. Boston (12K and 0BB)…tossed 5.1 perfect innings before allowing a one-out single to Christian Vázquez in the sixth inning…his 11K matched the most by a Yankees pitcher this season (also Gerrit Cole on Opening Day vs. San Francisco)
Did not record a decision on 4/10 at Cleveland after allowing 2R/1ER over 3.0IP (2H, 5BB, 0K)…his 5BB allowed tied a career high (also 5BB on 4/1/19 vs. Detroit)…also marked his first career start with 0K.
Made his season debut on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia and took the loss, allowing 4ER over 4.2IP (4H, 0BB, 8K, 2HR)…his 8K were his most in a game since recording 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston.
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 3-2 through five games on their current 10-game homestand, going 1-2 against the Nationals over the weekend, followed by consecutive wins over the Yankees the last two nights…today the Twins will play their final game of 2023 against New York… starting tomorrow night, Minnesota will host the Royals for four games through Sunday…the Twins have gone 7-4 at Target Field and 7-6 on the road.
The Twins are looking to win their fourth-straight today, which would match a season-high, done twice previously: March 30-April 3 and April 11-14.
TWINS TAKE ANOTHER FROM THE YANKEES: The Twins beat the Yankees last night at Target Field by a score of 6-2…Joe Ryan (5-0) was the starter and winner, becoming the first five-game winner in baseball…Ryan allowed two runs (1 earned) on seven hits in 7.0 innings pitched, with no walks and seven strikeouts…Jorge López and Jhoan Duran each pitched 1.0 scoreless inning of relief…the offense recorded eight hits, two from both Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco…Buxton hit his fourth home run while Trevor Larnach hit his third homer.
Ryan has won each of his first five starts this season, becoming the fifth pitcher in Twins/ Senators history (1901-present) to go 5-0 in his first five starts of the season, joining: Sad Sam Jones (5-0 from April 27-May 21-1, 1930), Bill McAfee (5-0 from August 19-2-September 4, 1932), Connie Marrero (5-0 from April 17-May 17, 1951) and Jerry Koosman (5-0 from April 10-May 1, 1979).
The win secured the series victory for the Twins, marking their first series win over the Yankees since taking two out of three September 10-12, 2018 at Target Field.
START SPREADING THE NEWS: The Twins have gone 4-2 against the Yankees this season, going 2-2 in New York from April 13-16 and 2-0 at Target Field this week. AA win today would give the Twins five wins in a season against the Yankees for the first time since going 5-5 in 2000.
Twins have outscored the Yankees 28-16 this season (+12)…it marks their highest run differential vs. NY since 1991 when they posted a +18 (64-46)…the last time they were in the + was in 2014 at +3, outscoring the Yankees 32-29.
Jorge Polanco is hitting .298 (31-for-104) with eight doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBI and a .910 OPS in 26 career games against the Yankees…in his last 15 vs. NYY, he is hitting .349 (22-for-63) with six doubles, seven home runs, 19 RBI and a 1.160 OPS…he has nine RBI in his last seven games vs. New York.
Joey Gallo has two hits in four at-bats vs. his former club this season, including one double, one home run, one RBI and one walk.
WAY BACK WEDNESDAY: Last night’s win secured the season series for Minnesota, their first over the Yankees since going 4-2 in 2001…below are the lineups from May 10, 2001 at old Yankee Stadium when the Twins clinched the 2001 season series with a 5-4 10-inning win
SWEEPS WEEK: The Twins are seeking their second sweep of the season today…their other sweep came in the series opener in Kansas City from March 30-April 2 (3 games)…last season, they swept opponents eight times, all in three games…the Twins’ second sweep of 2022 came from April 26-28 vs. Detroit…the Twins are seeking a sweep of the Yankees for the first time since a three-gamer at the HHH Metrodome from September 6-8, 1991…the Twins swept the Yankees in 1993, ’94 and ’98, but they were all in just two games.
JOEY JACKS: Joey Gallo hit his sixth home run of the season Monday night and now has an at-bat-per-home run ratio of 6.33, the highest in baseball (minimum 40 plate appearances)… despite missing 10 games (right intercostal strain — April 11-19), he still leads the club in homers and ranks tied for fourth in the American League and tied for 10th in baseball.
Additionally, he leads all of baseball in slugging percentage (min. 40 PA) at .789 and ranks third in OPS (1.167).
THIS AND THAT:
The Twins are hitting .308 (42-for-169) with runners in scoring position this season, ranking fourth in all of baseball, trailing Texas (.366), Tampa Bay (.316) and Chicago-NL (.315).
Trevor Larnach recorded two RBI last night giving him a team-leading 17 on the season…he already is just one away from matching his 2022 RBI total of 18…17 RBI ranks tied for 11th most in the American League.
STARTING PITCHER – KENTA MAEDA 18
2023: 0-3, 4.15 ERA CAREER: 59-44, 3.88 ERA
Facing New York-AL for just second time in his career, last faced the Yankees on August 21, 2021 in a 7-1 Twins loss in New York…took the loss after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits, one walk and fanning five batters…exited the game with forearm tightness.
Seeking his first win since August 14, 2021 when he earned the win against Tampa Bay in a 12-0 Twins victory.
Making his fourth start and appearance of 2023, and his second at home…also 173rd career appearance, 139th start..is 5-3, 2.34 ERA (77.0 IP, 20 ER) with 16 walks and 82 strikeouts in 13 home games since becoming a Twin.
Is in his fourth season with the Twins after being acquired, along with Jair Camargo, from Los Angeles-NL in exchange for Brusdar Graterol and Luke Raley in 2020.
LAST START: Was dealt the loss in his start at Fenway Park against Boston on April 20 in a 11-5 Twins loss, opposite Tanner Houck…first time pitching at Fenway Park since July 12, 2019 where he took the 8-1 Dodgers loss…pitched only 2.0 innings, allowing one run and walking one batter, his first walk of the season…his lone blemish was a leadoff home run by Alex Verdugo…exited the game with a left ankle contusion after being hit with a 111 mph line drive by Jarren Duran to end the top of the second inning…was relieved by Emilio Pagán who gave up six runs in the third inning…the bullpen combined for 10 runs over 6.0 innings.
Was his second-shortest outing since April 21, 2021 when he pitched 3.0 innings against Oakland…the last time Maeda pitched just two innings in a start was July 17, 2019 in a 7-2 Dodgers win against Philadelphia…his first start in his career where he did not strikeout a single batter.
TWO STARTS AGO: Was dealt the loss in his 2023 Target Field debut against Chicago-AL on April 10 in a 4-3 Twins loss, opposite Dylan Cease…first time pitching at Target Field since August 14, 2021…pitched 6.0 innings, allowed four runs on eight hits with just three strikeouts…gave up a three-run home run to Hanser Alberto in the fourth after retiring 10 of the first 12 batters he faced.
AGAINST NEW YORK-AL: Maeda is facing the Yankees for just the second time in his career…last faced New York-AL on August 21, 2021 at Yankee Stadium, opposite Gerrit Cole…took the loss in 7-1 Twins defeat after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits, walking one batter and fanning five…exited the game with forearm tightness…his 2021 campaign would end after it was revealed he needed Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in September 2021….was scheduled to pitch in the last series against New York-AL but was scratched due to minor arm and body fatigue.
COMING HOME: After his first home start of the 2023 season, Maeda is 0-1, 6.00 ERA (6.0 IP, 4 ER) with three strikeouts…batters are slashing .160/.192/.400 on the road against Maeda compared to .308/.308/.500 at home…in the 2021 season, Maeda pitched seven of his 21 starts at home…he went 2-2, 2.13 ERA (38.0 IP, 9 ER) with 10 walks and 37 strikeouts…is 5-3, 2.34 ERA (77.0 IP 20 ER) with 16 walks and 83 strikeouts in 13 starts at Target Field since becoming a Twin…has enjoyed more success at home over his career, with batters slashing .210/.267/.343 in home games versus .240/.304/.424 during road games.
Ranks 10th in lowest home ERA in the American League since 2020, sixth in lowest WHIP (0.896),tied for fifth in lowest earned runs allowed and fifth in lowest opponent OPS (.523) (min. 70 IP).
THE RIGHT STUFF: After his first three starts, Maeda has seen more success against right-handed batters, holding righties to a .194/.194/.419 slash line with nine strikeouts and a .613 OPS compared to left-handed hitters who are slashing .300/.333/.500 with three strikeouts and a .833 OPS.
Historically Maeda has seen more success against right-handed batters, with righties only batting .203/.252/.351 with 303 hits against him, as opposed to left-handed batters slashing .251/.322/.425 with 355 hits…ranks second in opponent batting average vs. righties since 2016 (min 750.0 IP), trailing only Max Scherzer (.177).
THE ARSENAL: In three starts this season, Maeda has used a five-pitch mix, mostly using his split finger and slider…he has used the slider mostly against righties for seven strikeouts and a .273 opponent batting average…all three of his home runs allowed have come off of a slider…has used his sinker exclusively against righties and the five times he utilized his curveball were against lefties… here’s a breakdown of his repertoire:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (#, vs. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
Split Finger (84.2)………………. 32.6% (62 pitches, 14/48)…………………………………..200 (3-for-15), 2 K
Slider (82.2)……………………….. 31.1% (59 pitches, 56/3)………………… .273 (6-for-22),1 2 B, 3 HR, 7 K
4-Seam Fastball (89.9)……….. 23.2% (44 pitches, 24/20)…………………………. .333 (3-for-9), 1 2 B, 3 K
Sinker (89.5) ………………………. 10.5% (20 pitches, 20/0)…………………………………………. .000 (0-for-3)
Curveball (75.7)…………………….. 2.6% (5 pitches, 0/5) ……………………………………………. .000 (0-for-2)
