Yankees: Saturday’s loss proved NYY need Spencer Turnbull

Wait, you thought the New York Yankees were going to rebound from their worst loss of the season by mopping the floor with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday? If that was the case, you either haven’t been watching or didn’t look ahead to the pitching matchup.

Less than 24 hours after the Yankees finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and faltered in walk-off fashion in extras, they managed just three hits against Spencer Turnbull en route to a second straight defeat against the AL Central bottom-feeders.

The Yanks’ had a chance to blow things open in the second inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out. However, Miguel Andujar zapped all of that momentum by hitting into a run-scoring double play, which allowed Turnbull to settle in.

If not for a high pitch count, Turnbull could’ve gone the distance in this one, but he’ll settle for 5.2 innings of three-hit ball to go with six strikeouts. The outing lowered his ERA to 2.93 and you better believe teams in need of pitching had a close eye on him.

Speaking of which, the Yankees clearly fall under that category and Saturday’s loss proved they should pursue Turnbull ahead of the trade deadline.

Saturday’s loss vs Detroit proved the Yankees need Spencer Turnbull.

The Yankees are currently without a starter after Corey Kluber was shut down for four weeks following a sub-scapular strain diagnosis. Assuming he gets through his recovery without a setback, we’d be lucky to see him before the All-Star Break in mid-July.

With Deivi Garcia failing to impress in his fill-in start on Saturday — he lasted just 4.2 innings and surrendered five runs (four earned) — and Jameson Taillon sporting a hideous 5.06 ERA through nine starts, the back end of the Yankees’ rotation simply isn’t sustainable.

Turnbull, who tossed a no-hitter for Detroit just one day before Kluber twirled his own no-no against the Rangers, would be an outstanding midseason acquisition for New York.

Fresh off the best season of his career in 2019, the 28-year-old righty has picked up that momentum and developed himself into a high-end starter for Detroit. In fact, putting aside his May 1 start against the Yankees in which he conceded four runs in a losing effort, Turnbull has allowed just 10 earned runs over six starts (35.1 innings).

We hate to pin New York’s starters against each other, but if Turnbull joined the team tomorrow he’d be right there with Domingo German as the No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole.

With Jordan Montgomery failing to establish himself as a dependable middle rotation guy, the Yankees have no excuse not to add a starter before the July 30 deadline.

If Turnbull mowing through the Yankees’ lineup with ease (again, he surrendered just three hits!) didn’t prove he’s the perfect target for GM Brian Cashman, then nothing does. For someone who clearly doesn’t fit into the Tigers’ rebuild plans, he could likely be acquired at a reasonable price, too.

Yankees: 3 Tigers trade targets to keep an eye on this series

Yankees fans should keep an eye on the following Detroit Tigers this series, who could be good additions to the roster at the trade deadline.