Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Yankees: Five Yankees that have exceeded expectations

By TJ Wengert

May 17, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) celebrates with shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) and right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees won 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) celebrates with shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) and right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees won 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Jun 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda (35) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda (35) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Pineda

The man that came to New York through the 2012 “blockbuster” trade with Seattle. Pineda was an All-Star in 2011, but then went on to miss the next two seasons due to injury.

Coming into the season, the Yankees were hoping that Pineda would put up good numbers for a number two starter. But due to Pineda’s success, and Masahiro Tanaka’s struggles, Pineda has

More from New York Yankees

emerged has the top arm of the rotation.

Pineda has always had the strikeout stuff, as he has a career average of 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings, but he has had problems with hitting his spots and giving up the longball. Which is ironic that he is having a career year because his homerun per nine this year is at a career high (1.6).

He was projected to have 11 wins with 3.86 ERA and 206 strikeouts, which would make for a solid season and the best since his rookie year. Instead, Pineda has gone 7-3 through 13 starts, and he owns a 3.71 ERA and 77 strikeouts.

For an ace, you’d like the ERA lower, but it has puffed up mostly because he’s allowed five earned runs in two of his last three starts. If you’re the Yankees then your concern lies with Tanaka. If you get him back on track to go along with Pineda’s success, then the Yankees rotation would be good enough for a postseason run.

Home/New York Yankees