Yankees: Top 10 Starting Pitchers NYY Will Face This Season

With a unique schedule this season, the New York Yankees will play a limited number of teams, but there’s going to be no shortage of aces on the opposing side.

In a normal season, the New York Yankees play about half their games against the AL East, 60-70 games against the AL Central and AL West, and the remainder of their games against the New York Mets and a division from the NL.

Instead, the Yankees play their AL East opponents 10 times each, and each NL East team three or four times, adding up to what will be a 60-game season.

As opposed to facing off against 20 teams, the Yankees will only play nine teams, meaning they’ll see fewer pitchers than usual. However, they’ll still have their hands full with a number of electric starting pitchers.

These rankings are based on who the Yankees match up worst against, taking into account factors such as the pitcher’s consistency, their numbers against the Yankees, and how they do against right and left-handed batters. With that being said, here are the top 10 toughest matchups the Yankees could face this year.

Honorable Mentions

Marcus Stroman, NYM

vs NYY: 17 GS, 4.23 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 93.2 IP

Once rumored to be a trade target of the Yankees, Marcus Stroman was acquired by the Mets last summer. From 2014-2016, Stroman found plenty of success against the Bombers, pitching to a 2.17 ERA in 49.2 IP. But over the last nine starts from 2017-2019, he’s pitched to an abysmal 6.55 ERA in 44 IP. Luckily for Stroman, he won’t have to travel to the Bronx as often anymore.

Games vs NYM: Aug 21-23, Aug 28-30

John Means, BAL 

vs NYY: 5 G (2 GS), 7.62 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 13.0 IP

Emerging as one of the lone bright spots on an absolutely putrid Orioles team last year, John Means quietly put together an impressive rookie season in 2019, earning him an All-Star selection and second place in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Despite that, the Yankees had no issue roughing him up, so he’ll have more to prove in his sophomore season.

Games vs BAL: Aug 3-5, Sep 4-6, Sep 10-13

Hyun-Jin Ryu, TOR 

vs NYY: 2 GS, 8.71 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 10.1 IP

Having led the league in ERA at 2.32 last year with the Dodgers, and sporting a career ERA of 2.98, Hyun-Jin Ryu has found a lot of success since coming over from South Korea. If it weren’t for the two outings we’ve seen from Ryu against the Yankees, he would easily crack the top 10. However, considering the Yankees have four HR in 10.1 IP against the finesse lefty, Ryu won’t match up well in the coming divisional battles.

Games vs TOR: Sep 7-9, Sep 15-17, Sep 21-24

Zack Wheeler, PHI 

vs NYY: 3 GS, 7.04 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 15.1 IP

Once a prized Mets prospect that was supposed to be one of many aces for the team, Zack Wheeler inked a lucrative deal to join the Phillies this offseason. With 60 starts and a 3.63 ERA over the last two seasons, Wheeler has finally proven some ability to stay healthy. Although he won’t see the Yankees often, Wheeler will look to improve upon his numbers against them if he gets the chance.

Games vs PHI – Aug 27-30

Players left off due to injuries:

Chris Sale, BOS

Noah Syndergaard, NYM

10. Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS

vs NYY 18 G (16 GS), 3.87 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 93 IP

It has not been a pleasant offseason for the Boston Red Sox. With Chris Sale going down with a season-ending injury, David Price being dealt to the Dodgers, and Rick Porcello leaving in free agency, Boston is left with scraps for starting pitching. By default, Eduardo Rodriguez is the team’s ace.

That’s no slight to Rodriguez, as he did finish tied for sixth in Cy Young voting in 2019 and he’s made this list for a reason. At just 27 years old, he’s entering his sixth season as a major leaguer, and he’s shown strides in each year. In 2019, he had career highs in ERA (3.81), K (213), GS (34), and IP (203.1).

Against the Yankees last season, Rodriguez went at least five innings in each of his four starts and gave up no more than seven hits or four runs in any of them, including two starts in which he gave up two runs or less. Look out for Rodriguez to continue to improve in 2020.

Games vs BOS: July 31-Aug 2, Aug 14-17, Sep 18-20

9. Blake Snell, TB

vs NYY: 16 GS, 4.41 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 69.1 IP

Just a year removed from his 2018 AL Cy Young campaign, Blake Snell greatly regressed in 2019, partially due to injuries. Overall, his numbers against the Yankees aren’t too bad, but in his last eight outings, he has a 5.09 ERA with seven HR allowed in 35.1 IP.

Despite that, Snell’s strikeout rate actually went up from 11 K/9 in 2018 to 12.4 K/9 in 2019. Although his 2018 campaign was clearly superior, the gap isn’t quite as large as one might imagine. In 2018, Snell had a FIP of 2.94, which increased to a respectable 3.32 in 2019.

With all that being said, there’s no telling if Snell will be as effective as he was in 2018, but given his lack of success against the Yankees, it’s safe to say he doesn’t rank among the biggest challenges for the club moving forward.

Games vs TB: Aug 6-9, Aug 18-20, Aug 31-Sep 2

8. Tyler Glasnow, TB 

vs NYY: 2 GS, 3.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 10 IP

It may seem a little ambitious to put Tyler Glasnow this high, especially considering it took him three seasons to find his footing in the league, and even when he did, he was unable to stay healthy. However, Glasnow is THAT good, and he has the potential to move up on this list when it’s all said and done.

Once a top prospect in the Pirates organization, Glasnow came over in the Chris Archer deal in 2018. His 11 starts with the Rays that year were pedestrian, but in 2019, the star potential in Glasnow came out for all to see.

In 12 starts, Glasnow tallied 76 K in 60.2 IP to the tune of a stellar 1.78 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Although his worst start did come against the Yankees, when he went 5.1 IP and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, he still managed to strike out nine batters.

Games vs TB: Aug 6-9, Aug 18-20, Aug 31-Sep 2

7. Patrick Corbin, WAS

vs NYY: 1 GS, 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 7 IP

Perhaps the biggest name the Yankees missed out on in free agency in recent years is Patrick Corbin. As a guy that was rumored to want to play for the Yankees, Corbin spurned them for a more lucrative deal in D.C., as Brian Cashman chose not to outbid the eventual World Series Champion Washington Nationals.

In his first season with the Nats, Corbin tallied 238 K in 202 IP with a 3.25 ERA, making many Yankees fans wish Cashman had made the extra push to ink the left-hander. Although his playoff numbers are underwhelming, Corbin played an instrumental role in providing depth to a stacked starting rotation.

Corbin’s lone start against the Yankees was back in 2013, when Kevin Youkilis was batting cleanup. One thing to note is that Corbin has found way more success against lefties than righties, and the Yankees lineup is stacked with the latter, which very well could bode poorly for Corbin.

Games vs WAS: July 23, 25-26

4. Mike Soroka, ATL

vs NYY: N/A

The second pitcher on this list that the Yankees have not seen is Atlanta Braves phenom Mike Soroka. The 23-year-old right-hander caught the eyes of some following a couple call-ups in 2018, but in his true rookie season last year, he took a huge step forward.

Following a late promotion in April, Soroka had a 2.68 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 174.2 IP across 29 starts. In those 29 starts, he pitched at least six innings in 20 of them. Among those 20, he threw less than 90 pitches in eight of them, and only threw 100+ pitches in three of them. Overall, he averaged 88 pitches per start, and managed to finish sixth in the NL Cy Young voting.

What’s scariest about Soroka is how he dominates righties. In 401 PA against Soroka last season, right-handed batters slashed .203/.256/.281 with just five HR and 10 doubles. He might not be as nasty as most of the guys on this list, but he’s undeniably one of the most effective.

Games vs ATL: Aug 11-12, Aug 25-26

3. Stephen Strasburg, WAS

vs NYY: N/A

Despite being in the league for a decade now, the Yankees have managed to miss Stephen Strasburg in each of their series with the Nationals. However, that is bound to change as the Yankees open up the season in D.C.

Strasburg has had a very nice career to this point, having just won World Series MVP in the franchise’s first title win. The only knock on his career has been his inability to stay healthy. In his 10 years, the 32-year-old has only made 30+ starts three times in his career, but if 2019 showed us anything, it’s that the best of Strasburg is yet to come.

In 33 starts, Strasburg led the league with 209 IP, and tallied 251 K with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He went on to go 5-0 in the playoffs with a 1.98 ERA and 47 K over 36.1 IP. All together, he had 298 K over 245.1 IP and a 3.12 ERA.

Games vs WAS: July 23, 25-26

2. Jacob deGrom, NYM

vs NYY: 6 GS, 3.51 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 41 IP

With back-to-back Cy Young awards in his pocket, Jacob deGrom has solidified himself as an elite pitcher in the game. In his past two seasons combined, deGrom has a 2.05 ERA with 524 K in 421 IP. How many wins is that good for? Just 21. What a useless statistic.

Having three straight years with 200+ IP and 239+ K, deGrom has proven to be one of the most consistent pitchers in the league as well. Entering his age 32 season, there’s no reason to believe he won’t compete for a third straight Cy Young.

The Yankees didn’t see deGrom in 2019, but they did see him twice in 2018. They managed to salvage six runs (four earned) on nine hits across 14.2 IP. How is the reigning back-to-back Cy Young award winner not atop this list?

Games vs NYM: Aug 21-23, Aug 28-30

1. Max Scherzer, WAS

vs NYY: 7 GS, 4.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 42.1 IP

The toughest matchup the Yankees will face this year will be on opening night when they take on Max Scherzer. If deGrom has better numbers against the Yankees than Scherzer, and has won the last two Cy Young awards over Scherzer, how is deGrom behind him?

There are a couple of factors in play. The Yankees haven’t seen Max Scherzer since 2015, his first season with the Nationals. Yes, Scherzer was a very good pitcher then, even a Cy Young winner back in 2013, but he is a different animal now. In the four seasons since then, Scherzer has led the NL in K three times, WHIP three times, K/9 twice, and has two Cy Young awards to his name.

What’s scariest about Scherzer and what ultimately led him to claim this top spot is his effectiveness vs right-handed batters. In his career, righties have only managed to hit .197 off him with a .330 SLG%. Last year, righties slashed .194/.221/.309 against him. With the Yankees heavily stacked with right-handed hitters, coupled with the fact that many haven’t even faced off against Scherzer before, they could be in for a rough opening night.

Games vs WAS: July 23, 25-26