Yankees Pitchers Are on the Verge of Setting Atrocious MLB Record
By Daniel Marcillo
The New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants will not compete for much against each other, but their starting pitchers are competing to avoid infamy. A stat they could soon share characterizes the problems their starters (in some cases, openers) have with kickoff off games.
The Giants currently lead the Yankees by the narrowest of margins for the most first-inning home runs allowed in one season.
Yankees have allowed 37 HR in 1st inning. Only 2 teams in MLB history have allowed more: 2005 Reds and 2019 Giants both allowed 38. https://t.co/KgH1Ps7JwG
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) August 21, 2019
The Yankees fell victim to two first-inning home runs during Tuesday night's contest against the Oakland A's. It is remarkable that the Yankees have still managed to play good baseball despite their propensity to allow homers early in the game.
The 2005 Reds only won 75 games when they set the record. The 2019 Giants have 63 and project to finish around .500. James Paxton (11), J.A. Happ (7) and C.C. Sabathia (5) have allowed the most first-inning home runs for the Yankees this season.
Matt Olson and Mark Canha brought the bats out early against Domingo Germán. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/Ol0W6k75Vl
— Today in MLB (@TodayintheMLB) August 21, 2019
Happ will pitch for the Bronx Bombers on Wednesday night at attempt to keep them away from the Gaints' unfortunate pace.
The Yankees will eventually pass the Reds at some point, of course. Who could have thought that the team that set the all-time MLB record for most home runs in a season just a year ago could turn around and do something like this?