Yankees: Top 10 Starting Pitchers NYY Will Face This Season

6. Aaron Nola, PHI

vs NYY: N/A

One of the three pitchers on this list the Yankees have not seen is Aaron Nola. Much like Snell, Nola regressed greatly in 2019 after a fantastic 2018 that saw him finish third in the NL Cy Young voting.

Nola saw declines in ERA (2.37 to 3.87), WHIP (0.98 to 1.27) and FIP (3.01 to 4.03). Nonetheless, Nola has now had back-to-back seasons of 200+ IP, 220+ K and 33+ GS, solidifying himself as the Phillies ace for the foreseeable future.

The Yankees never seeing Nola before can be chalked up as an advantage for the latter. Additionally, Nola managed to hold righties to a mere .227 AVG last season, and .207 in 2018. Where Nola really dropped off was against lefties, something the Yankees don’t have a lot of, which shapes out to be another advantage for Nola.

Games vs PHI: Aug 27-30

5. Charlie Morton, TB 

vs NYY: 8 GS, 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, 47.2 IP

A career unlike all the others on this list, Charlie Morton’s peak has come in his mid-30s. Following years of inconsistency in Pittsburgh, Morton wound up with the Astros in 2017 and has had his best three seasons since.

In his first season with the Rays this past year, Morton had career highs in ERA (3.05), K (240), GS (33), IP (194.2), WHIP (1.08) and K/9 (11.1). He garnered his second straight All-Star selection and finished third in Cy Young voting and 21st in MVP Voting.

If you take out Morton’s first two starts against the Yankees back in 2014 and 2017, then the hard throwing-righty has a 3.34 ERA with 49 K in 35 IP. Can a guy keep improving at age 36? Only time will tell, but Morton will likely continue to give the Yankees trouble in 2020.

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