Daily Report – 6/19/26
Yankees
Camilo Doval was the main reason for last night’s 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, but his teammates did not do him any favors.
The Yankees pummelled Chicago with double-digit scoring efforts on Tuesday and Wednesday, securing the first two games of the three-game series. But when an opportunity arrived to sweep the surging first-place White Sox, the Yankees couldn’t muster enough offense.
While the Yankees have surged late in many recent games, including their final two in Toronto over the weekend, it was their opponent’s turn yesterday. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning, manager Aaron Boone summoned Doval from the bullpen.
Coming off five straight scoreless appearances, Doval was working on rebuilding his confidence, but Boone pulled the trigger too soon. Entering yesterday’s game, left-handed batters owned a .956 OPS against Doval this season, but because Fernando Cruz surrendered a lead-off double and Tim Hill hit two batters, Boone didn’t have a choice but to call on Doval.
Brent Headrick wasn’t available because he had pitched the night before, and Randal Grichuk, who would have been Doval’s first opponent, holds a .987 OPS against lefties this season. So, Boone had to go to a righty, and Doval was his only viable option.
The Yankees have five right-handed pitchers in their bullpen. Paul Blackburn is a long reliever, so he isn’t trained to enter a game with the bases loaded. Fernando Cruz, the Yankees’ best right-handed firefighter, had already faltered before Doval entered the game. Jake Bird is entirely unreliable. And David Bednar wasn’t an option because he was being reserved for a save situation.
So, only Doval remained. But before he could blink, pinch-hitter Andrew Benintendi, batting in Grichuk’s place, took him deep to right field on his first pitch. It was the first grand slam Doval has allowed in his entire six-year career.
“Some of those lefties haven’t missed against him,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Benintendi went up there hunting very aggressively. First pitch, and he pulled the ball down and in. He’s missed spots in some situations that have hurt him.”
Many times this season, I have described the changes the Yankees have made to Doval’s pitching arsenal. They have increased his sinker usage this season to a mark nearly four times as high as it was last season. While Doval has improved at throwing strikes and getting to the plate quicker, his sinker is still developing movement. At 100 mph, it was the first pitch he fired to Benintendi.
“Slumps are part of the game as baseball players,” Doval said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “We all go through them. I’m not exactly getting the results that I expect of myself right this moment, but I know they’re coming. I know a good streak is coming. […] Sometimes, that’s the game. My focus is to execute the pitch.”
Doval was far from the only player responsible for yesterday’s loss, though. Some questionable baserunning decisions led to only one run on the board, a third-inning solo home run by Ryan McMahon. Right-hander Sean Burke, pitching in a bulk spot for Chicago, struck out eight batters and surrendered five hits through 7 1/3 innings.
Also, the Yankees have given Ryan Weathers, yesterday’s starter, very little run support this season, resulting in a 2-5 record for a pitcher who deserves much more praise. Injuries have been Weathers’s biggest hurdle throughout his career, but 73 games into this season, he has given the Yankees much more than they expected.
“It feels nice to keep the team in the game,” Weathers said. “My last couple of times haven’t been that, so it felt nice to be out there and compete. I felt like my old self again.”
Weathers permitted one run, a solo homer by Colson Montgomery, and across 6 1/3 frames, he allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out eight. In addition to generating 14 swings and misses, he struck batters out with four of his five pitches.
But Burke was better. He forced 20 whiffs with a six-pitch arsenal, confounding the Yankees. His four-seam fastball was particularly strong, which helped him settle in early. His confidence never wavered, especially because of all the Yankees’ baserunning mishaps.
In the fourth inning, Anthony Volpe worked a two-out walk, but got caught stealing second base. In the fifth inning, José Caballero singled with one out and advanced to second base on a fielding error, but he subsequently got picked off. In the seventh inning, Volpe laced a double to the left-field wall, but he got tagged out while going for three.
That left the door open for Chicago in the eighth inning. A double and two hit batters loaded the bases, and Benintendi teed off against Doval.
In other unfortunate news, Jazz Chisholm Jr. departed yesterday’s game early after fouling a pitch off his midsection in the fourth inning. He crouched into a fetal position and could barely stand up. His status remains unknown.
Tonight, at 7:05 PM, RHP Cam Schlittler (7-3, 1.82 ERA) will toe the slab for the Yankees against the righty Rhett Lowder (3-3, 4.60 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
Tomorrow, at 1:35 PM, RHP Will Warren (7-1, 3.47 ERA) will start against the southpaw Andrew Abbott (4-4, 3.95 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
And on Sunday, at 1:35 PM, RHP Gerrit Cole (2-1, 2.57 ERA) will mind the bump against the righty Chase Burns (8-1, 2.01 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
Schedule
Tonight 6/19:
7:05 PM: NYY vs. CIN; YES, Gotham Sports; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (7-3, 1.82 ERA) vs. RHP Rhett Lowder (3-3, 4.60 ERA)
Tomorrow 6/20:
1:35 PM: NYY vs. CIN; YES, Gotham Sports; SP: RHP Will Warren (7-1, 3.47 ERA) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (4-4, 3.95 ERA)
Sunday 6/21:
1:35 PM: NYY vs. CIN; YES, Gotham Sports; SP: RHP Gerrit Cole (2-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Burns (8-1, 2.01 ERA)
