Yankees  – The New York Yankees faced a formidable challenge on Sunday as they were stymied by Tarik Skubal, a Cy Young Award candidate, who delivered a masterful performance. Skubal limited Aaron Boone’s squad to a mere three hits and a single run—a run that came on a wild pitch—over six innings. Despite the daunting task of facing one of the league’s premier pitchers, the Yankees’ struggles against left-handed pitchers have become a recurring issue this season, and their inability to overcome southpaws has been a significant concern.

Entering Monday, the Yankees had compiled a .712 OPS against left-handed pitchers, ranking them 13th-worst in Major League Baseball. This statistic highlights a troubling trend: the Yankees have consistently underperformed when faced with left-handed starters. Their record against southpaws in 32 games was just 13 wins, a mark that is particularly concerning as the team heads into the stretch run of the season and potentially the postseason.

In contrast, the Yankees have excelled against right-handed pitchers, boasting a solid 60-33 record. The disparity between their performance against righties and lefties is stark, with notable players like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto continuing to hit effectively regardless of the opposing pitcher’s handedness. However, the supporting cast has faltered when facing lefties.

DJ LeMahieu, who has been given more opportunities to face left-handed pitchers, has struggled significantly, posting a woeful .406 OPS with just one home run in 66 plate appearances against them. Similarly, Alex Verdugo, who hits from the left side, has also struggled against southpaws, with a .606 OPS. This poor performance led to Verdugo increasingly being benched against left-handed pitchers, as seen with the one-day call-up of switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez on Sunday. Unfortunately, Dominguez’s debut was disappointing, as he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ shortstop, has also struggled against left-handed pitchers, with a .636 OPS. The Yankees hoped to address this issue with Giancarlo Stanton’s return from the injured list, but Stanton has managed only a .663 OPS against lefties this year. Despite hopes that Stanton’s presence would provide a boost, the team’s struggles against southpaws have persisted throughout the season.

The Mets, recognizing the Yankees’ vulnerability, adjusted their rotation to shield right-hander Luis Severino from facing his former team and used four left-handed starters to sweep the season series. This strategic move underscored the Yankees’ ongoing difficulties against left-handed pitching. With six more left-handed starters scheduled in their next nine games, starting with lefty Matthew Boyd and the Guardians on Tuesday, the Yankees’ challenges are set to continue.

On Sunday, despite working long at-bats against Skubal, including an eight-pitch battle by Gleyber Torres to open the game and ten-pitch fights from Jose Trevino and Volpe in the second inning, the Yankees struggled to make a significant impact. They walked four times but failed to capitalize on their opportunities, as Skubal proved to be too dominant.

In a positive development for the Yankees’ bullpen, Tommy Kahnle delivered another scoreless inning on Sunday, extending his impressive streak. Since July 14, Kahnle has not allowed an earned run, compiling a 1.74 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 12 ²/₃ innings, allowing just two unearned runs on five hits.

Looking ahead, Cody Poteet is set to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, marking his return from a right triceps strain that has kept him sidelined since June 12. Poteet’s return could provide a much-needed boost to the Yankees’ pitching staff as they navigate the remainder of the season.

Additionally, the Yankees will host free skin cancer screenings on Thursday for fans attending the game against the Guardians. The screenings will be available from when the Stadium gates open at 11:30 a.m. until the scheduled 1:05 p.m. first pitch, taking place on the 200 Level Concourse in between the New Era Team Store and Section 223. Fans do not need to make reservations to take advantage of this health initiative.

In summary, while the Yankees continue to face formidable challenges against left-handed pitchers, their pitching staff and health initiatives offer glimpses of hope as they prepare for a crucial stretch of games.