Fansided

4 ways the Twins can conquer their Yankees demons

By Sean Sears

Minneapolis, MN-September 10: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches in the fourth inning. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis, MN-September 10: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches in the fourth inning. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The Yankees starters have a few flaws

While New York features one of the more dominant bullpens in baseball, but their starters are not quite the elite group their relievers are and struggle to keep the ball in the park. The Yankees rotation’s home run/fly ball percentage of 17.8 percent is the 3rd highest rate on the season. And against a team like the Twins that feature so many home run hitters in their lineup, it starts to look like an advantage.

The Yankees starting group doesn’t have much postseason experience either, outside of C.C. Sabitha and Mashiro Tanaka, and with the short porches in left and right field, the Twins are hoping they can get ahead in counts and tie-off. But the Twins need to be aggressive early against the Yankees’ starters and try and hit some home runs early because once the bullpen comes in the scoring chances will be held to a premium for the Twins.

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