The Yankees have ridden a left-hander heavy lineup to a berth in the American League Wild Card Round, and even though they have a home game vs. the Astros, they will have to face one of MLB’s best southpaw starters, Dallas Keuchel.
Keuchel was dominant this year, winning 20 games, posting a 2.48 ERA, and striking out nearly a batter an inning. He’s also been death on left-handers, holding them to a .198 OBP, a .171 batting average, and just three home runs in 52.2 innings. The Yankees are dependent on the long ball, having launched the fourth-most (212) in baseball this year.
So are the Yankees doomed? Five regulars – Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Brian McCann, Didi Gregorius, and Greg Bird – are lefty, and switch hitter Carlos Beltran has been more lethal vs. right-handers as a left-handed batter. That’s six key contributors working at a seeming disadvantage vs. one of the best southpaws in the sport.
Maybe not.
Collectively, the Yankees have hit better vs. left-handers .257/.336/.414 than against conventional pitchers .248/.317/.424. And before anyone points out that injured 1B Mark Teixeira, a switch-hitter, played a big role in that, his slash line vs. lefties was .223/.373/.413. His replacement, Bird, has been very much in line with that production.
The Yankees’ lefties may not be mashing same-handed pitchers, but they’re not helpless. Alex Rodriguez and Chase Headley, will just have to step up. Rodriguez has hit well against lefties, posting a .532 slugging percentage in 193 plate appearances against them, while Headley’s hit .283 with three home runs.
And then there’s this—Keuchel is pitching on three days’ rest. The Astros needed him on Friday against the Diamondbacks because they were still chasing the AL West division crown. Keuchel threw 99 pitches, meaning there will be some kind of leash on him in this start.
Before Yankees fans get too excited though, it should be noted that Keuchel tormented the Bronx Bombers in two starts in 2015. He posted a 21-1 strikeout to walk ratio, won twice, and didn’t give up an earned run.
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