Camilo Doval’s Challenges on the Mound

Camilo Doval currently holds a 4.67 ERA, but this statistic doesn’t quite encapsulate the struggles he’s faced recently, having allowed eight earned runs over his last three appearances.

In the realm of baseball, there are only a handful of pitchers who are statistically more accommodating to left-handed hitters. This has made Doval a target for some skilled right-handed batters.

Nonetheless, there’s a prevailing sentiment—shared by both Doval and his manager—that suggests his luck is bound to turn around, with misfortune being a key factor in his recent difficulties.

“I’ve honestly never felt this good in my pitching career,” Doval mentioned, after allowing two earned runs in a 6-1 defeat to the Twins. He spoke through translator Marlon Abreu. “The results aren’t what I expect from myself. Sometimes, it just seems to be out of my control. You can throw a perfect pitch, and it still doesn’t go your way.”

The manager pointed out a valid observation during the series finale. An error by Anthony Volpe led to a misplay by Luke Keishal, which allowed a hit to slip into a difficult spot, ultimately resulting in a single with the bases loaded.

Unfortunately, Doval wasn’t able to escape the troubles caused by misfortunes and errors, yielding one run from a walk and another via a sacrifice fly.

“I know it might not be what people want to hear, but he’s been pitching well,” Boone stated, praising Doval’s performance against right-handed batters and acknowledging his own challenges with left-handed batters. “Being a lefty definitely puts him at a disadvantage… We need to find ways to help him be more effective.”

Doval represents a broader array of issues for the Yankees this season. Despite his impressive background as a 2023 All-Star, his struggles have prompted the organization to search for reinforcements at the trade deadline. He’s managed to handle right-handed batters well, but when it comes to facing left-handed batters, he’s had a tough time. Among pitchers who have pitched at least 19 innings against righties this season, Doval ranks 13th for OPS allowed at .438, only trailing Shohei Ohtani by a slim margin.

Yet, he has struggled even more against left-handed hitters, showing a troubling 1.044 OPS against them.

During his standout All-Star season with the Giants, Doval’s success was largely due to utilizing cutters and sliders against lefties, with only a handful of sinkers thrown into the mix.

This year, his usage of sinkers has soared to 43 percent when facing left-handed batters.

When asked what he believes will improve his performance against left-handers, Doval mentioned the importance of making precise strikes.

“It’s crucial to execute effectively and attack the zone when facing lefties. Keeping your confidence is key,” he remarked. His stats against lefties show he has pitched 14 1/3 innings, giving up five walks, 26 hits, and four home runs. “…We just need to keep attacking and aim for consistency.”

The lack of options on the Yankees’ Triple-A roster makes it unlikely they could option Doval for a stint there, allowing him to regain his confidence against less challenging opponents.

Coach Boone expressed skepticism about such a move happening soon, saying, “He has to be a part of the solution moving forward. Given our struggles, making a change like that isn’t really feasible.”

In other news, Max Fried recently completed his second live batting session, throwing 36 pitches. The left-hander is recovering from a bruised elbow and is expected to take part in another simulated game later this week before resuming his rehab.