Yankees: 3 reasons NYY should actually be scared of Twins in 2020 playoffs
By Jerry Trotta
2.Yankees Susceptibility to Home Runs
The Yankees’ proneness to giving up home runs doesn’t bode well for them in a potential playoff series against Minnesota.
After breaking long-standing home run records for consecutive seasons, the Twins offense has expectedly come back down to earth this season. However, they are still tied for third (with the Yankees, ironically enough) in all of MLB with 91 dingers.
Nelson Cruz is playing like an MVP during his age-39 season and Byron Buxton is FINALLY healthy and playing like the stud Minnesota always thought he could be, leading the team in WAR while providing superstar level defense in center field. Despite their inconsistencies, the likes of Josh Donaldson, Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano and Max Kepler all boast the talent and power to completely alter the outcome of a game.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Yankees’ pitching staff has been alarmingly susceptible to the home run ball in 2020, surrendering the fifth-most (79) in the league. More specifically, ace Gerrit Cole — though he’s settled down over the final month of the year — has seen opposing teams go yard 14 times against him, which is tied for the second-most in MLB.
The Yankees’ struggles obviously extend beyond Cole, but if he isn’t hitting his spots in a pivotal Game 1, well, that could spell a world of trouble for the 27-time champions.