Blake Snell Posted Worst Start for a Reigning Cy Young Winner in History Against Yankees

Blake Snell was sensational last season, taking home the AL Cy Young award after posting an incredible 21-5 record with a minuscule 1.89 ERA. It certainly is difficult to follow up a season as incredible as that one, but it's also hard to pitch as poorly as Snell did on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

In fact, Snell posted the worst start for a reigning Cy Young winner in the history of baseball.

Perhaps he should, I don't know, rely on his fastball a bit more, like he did in 2018?

Snell recorded only one out in the shortest outing of his career; he walked four and surrendered a three-run blast to Yankees star catcher Gary Sanchez.

It's hard to notice how much worse overall Snell has been in the year following his Cy Young season. Snell has already allowed just one fewer earned run than he did all of last season in 105 fewer innings. He allowed 38 earned runs in 180.2 innings pitched last season, compared to 37 in 75.2 innings this season, causing his ERA to more than double from 1.89 to 4.40.

The month of June in particular has not been kind to Snell. Snell entered the month with a solid 3.06 ERA and seemed like he was having a solid follow up season to his historic one last year. However, in four starts in June, he has an ERA of 10.29, causing his numbers on the season to look a whole lot worse.

Snell will have to right the ship soon, as the Rays have now fallen to 3.5 games behind the first place Yankees. Snell returning to form will be critical for Tampa Bay's playoff aspirations.