The Yankees boast the league’s best record (42-19) and run differential (+107), and it’s no exaggeration to say they are the best team in baseball.
Part of that is because the starting rotation has been strengthened in the absence of Gerrit Cole, including Tuesday’s starter, Luis Gil.
Gill has a 1.99 ERA and a 32 percent strikeout rate in 11 games this season, allowing just three runs over his last six starts while striking out 44 batters in that span.
He’s started relying more on his changeup, which is resulting in a lot of weak contact.
Meanwhile, his fastball-slider combination is nearly unhittable, with a combined strikeout rate of nearly 35 percent.
I think he’ll slice through Minnesota’s average lineup (100 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers this season).
Yankees vs Twins predictions
(7:05pm ET, Yes)
Another reason for New York’s dominance is their phenomenal performance against right-handed pitching: The Bombers have a 145 wRC+ against them over the past month, 19 points higher than the next-best team.
Aaron Judge is batting .670 with a 1.062 OPS against right-handed pitching this year, while Juan Soto has a 1.039 OPS against right-handed pitching.
Many of the Yankees’ reserve players — Alex Verdugo, Anthony Volpe, Osvaldo Cabrera and Giancarlo Stanton — hit much better against right-handed pitching.
They should get a handle on Minnesota starter Bailey Ober, who is hitting 5.52 in 31 road innings and has an ERA approaching 5.00 this year.
Do you bet on baseball?
I think the Yankees relief staff is overrated, and the Twins relief staff is in great form, but I’m comfortable betting on Gill against the over in the first half on Tuesday.
Play: Yankees F5 ML (-180, DraftKings)
