Yankees’ Doval Struggles in Loss to Twins
In a tough Independence Day matchup in the Bronx, Camilo Doval’s performance stood out—though perhaps not for the right reasons.
The right-handed pitcher, who joined the Yankees at last year’s trade deadline, faced harsh criticism after contributing to an 11-4 defeat against the Twins on Saturday.
He allowed four runs, repeating a difficult pattern from earlier games.
During the top of the 8th inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a routine ground ball that allowed the Twins to edge ahead. Unfortunately, Doval wasn’t able to rely on his team’s defense.
He was personally responsible for a string of unfortunate hits, particularly from left-handed hitters who have consistently troubled him this season.
After getting one out, Doval conceded a hit to Trevor Larnach, followed by a sacrifice fly from Byron Buxton, an RBI single from Cody Clemens, and finally, a two-run homer from Josh Bell.
Post-game, Aaron Boone highlighted Doval’s struggle against left-handed batters, noting a concerning OPS of .951 compared to his career average of .728 against them. Ironically, he has been more effective against right-handers than in past seasons.
Boone remarked on the importance of Doval’s performance against lefties, pointing out that he often finds himself in tough situations that aren’t always just bad luck—sometimes, it’s about errors leading to challenging hits.
Unlike his previous outing, where he issued three walks, this time he ended with a triple against him.
Making his first start in the Bronx this season, Doval has already hit a career-high with six home runs allowed in just his last 27 innings.
As the Yankees eye additional bullpen support ahead of the trade deadline, they’re likely keen to avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous year, particularly regarding Doval and Jake Byrd’s inconsistent performances.
Despite these setbacks, the Yankees are holding onto Doval, as he has an option to be sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre without going through waivers—a testament to his superior pitching command compared to other relief options in the minors.
This includes Yovanny Cruz, a hard-throwing right-hander who impressed during his brief major league stint, particularly in a recent game against the Tigers.
While there’s still intrigue surrounding Doval’s speed and ability to strike out batters, his strikeout rate has dipped this season—although his walks have decreased as well.
However, for a player brought in for high-pressure situations, Doval’s recent performances haven’t lived up to expectations. With the trade deadline looming less than a month away, his opportunity to solidify his role in the Bronx is dwindling.
