The timing of this particular piece may seem odd, but stay with me. Before Gerrit Cole started throwing beach balls to the Twins’ hitters last night, Yankees’ pitchers were an elite team at avoiding the long ball. In fact, even after yesterday’s Home Run Derby in Target Field, the Yanks have allowed the second-fewest homers in 2022, with 46: only the Atlanta Braves, at 45, have conceded fewer.
So we can firmly say, despite last night’s fiasco, that the Yankees’ pitching has been elite at avoiding homers. One game won’t change that. As it turns out, they have also been the best team in the league at hitting them.