Gerrit Cole tells Twins to get split as Yankees-Twins split series

The Yankees split their first four-game series of the year in a matchup with the Twins over the weekend. The first two games of the series were ugly, totally demoralizing, but they managed to reclaim the series in Games 3 and 4.

In this series, Jhony Brito came back down to earth with his first poor start, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa really meant it when he said he wanted to be a utility player, Anthony Volpe has become the new “Man of Steal,” Domingo German had a complete 180 ace performance that got Twins’ Manager Rocco Baldelli ejected, Gerrit Cole continues to look like the master of the mound, Giancarlo Stanton suffered a hamstring strain that sent him to the IL for at least a month, and Oswald Peraza was called up to make his first big league debut of the season in Stanton’s absence.

Brito IS human

Jhony Brito had his first humbling start in Game 1 against the Twins, giving up 6 hits and 1 homerun for 7 earned runs in 0.2 innings pitched. Colten Brewer came to Brito’s rescue in the first inning and that didn’t go much better. Brewer would give up 2 homeruns and 2 earned runs before the Yanks would dig themselves out of the bottom of the first. The Twins would go on to win 11-2 with the Yankees only two runs coming from two Anthony Rizzo solo homeruns. The Yankees put in Isiah Kiner-Falefa to relieve in the ninth because...why waste a bullpen arm at that point…and IKF had the most productive performance of them all, giving up just one hit and zero earned runs. The Yankees’ utility guy will go down with the best ERA in baseball this season. Let that sink in.

The Man of Steal Part II

Yankees’ legend Rickey Henderson, known as “The Man of Steal” holds the all-time records for both most stolen bases at 1,406 SB and times caught stealing at 335 CS. It just so happens another Yankee might be gunning for one of his records and I’m not talking about getting caught stealing. We might as well start calling Anthony Volpe The Man of Steal Part II. In his first 17 big league games, the 21 year-old rookie is tied for 4^th across the league with 7-for7 stolen bases.

Domingo German’s Dominant Start is a “Sticky Situation”

Domingo German got the ball for the start of Game 3 with an ERA of 5.87 after he struggled to make it through four innings in his prior start against the Guardians where he walked five batters and didn’t record a single strikeout. In this start against the Twins, he gave the Yankees 11 strikeouts in his 6.1 innings pitched. Just before the fourth inning, Twins’ Manager Rocco Baldelli raised concerns with the umpiring crew over the possible use of an illegal substance on German’s hands. All four umpires, Yankees’ Manager Aaron Boone, Domingo German, and German’s interpreter convened on the mound to perform an extensive inspection of German’s hands. The umpiring crew instructed German to wash his hands and allowed him to continue to pitch after deeming the substance was rosin, the only legal gripping substance in the MLB. German pitched a perfect came through six innings, giving up just one hit in the seventh inning to Christian Vasquez. The Yankees took Game 3 with a 6-1 victory over the Twins.

Ace of Breaking Records

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Gerrit Cole is making a run to be the 2023 AL CY Young. Cole went for nine innings in Sunday’s game, completely shutting out the Twins. In this shutout performance, Cole gave up just two hits and one walk, while he recorded ten strikeouts. What’s even more impressive is that Cole has yet to give up a homerun this year with four starts under his belt. In this game, Cole surpassed Hall of Famer White Ford’s (97^th on the all-time strikeout list) record of 1,956 strikeouts. Cole now sits at 1,966 career strikeouts. In this game, Cole also tied Ron Guidry’s record for most outings (23) in franchise history with ten or more strikeouts.

Roster Moves and Injury Updates

The Yankees placed Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day IL after Game 2 of this series with a left hamstring strain. The Yankees estimate Stanton will be out at least six weeks. The Yankees called up Oswald Peraza (OF) from Somerset in Stanton’s absence.

Harrison Bader (OF) will resume workouts this week after he strained his left oblique muscle in spring training. Bader will likely begin a rehab assignment in Triple A at the end of this week, but is expected to be there longer than what is typical.

Lefty Carlos Rodon (SP) is experiencing back pain now after going on the IL with a strained left forearm. He will undergo tests this week.

Josh Donaldson (3B) will play a Minor League rehab game with the Somerset Patriots on Tuesday and may be reactivated this week after being placed on the 10-day IL.

Luis Severino (SP) threw a bullpen session this week and is expected to toss a live bullpen session later this week after being placed on the IL in March with a right lat strain.

On-Deck

As baseball superstition would have it, I’m not sure at what point it becomes a crime to mention that the Yankees are the last MLB team to remain unbeaten in a series upon completion of their fifth series, but it’s my job to deliver the facts.

The Yankees hope to put on a “sho” this week as they host the Angels in a three-game series followed by a three-game series at home over the weekend with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees rounded out this series with a record of 10-6 sitting second in the AL East at 3.5 games back from the Tampa Bay Rays.