Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval is facing challenges limiting damage, with an ERA of 4.67 that does not account for eight unearned runs allowed in his last three games. Both Doval and manager Aaron Boone attribute his struggles partly to misfortune.
"In my career as a pitcher, I’ve never felt this good," Doval said through an interpreter after allowing two unearned runs in a recent 6-1 loss. "I’m not getting the results I expect out of myself. Sometimes it’s out of your control — you execute pitches and then you don’t get the results you want."
Instances cited included a runner reaching base on an error and a batter failing to execute a bunt attempt, leading to bases loaded. Doval has struggled to contain scoring when errors or bad luck occur, walking in a run and allowing another to score on a sacrifice fly in one instance.
Boone acknowledged Doval's strong performance against right-handed hitters, where his .438 OPS-against ranked 13th among qualified pitchers this season. However, left-handed hitters have significantly troubled Doval, with a 1.044 OPS-against. This marks a shift from his 2023 All-Star season with the Giants, when he relied more on his cutter and slider against lefties. This year, his sinker usage against left-handed batters has increased to 43 percent.
Doval identified strike-throwing as key to improving against opposite-handed hitters. "You really gotta be able to execute and attack the zone against lefties. You can’t lose faith in yourself," he stated, noting he has walked five, allowed 26 hits, and given up four home runs in 14 1/3 innings against lefties. He emphasized consistency and continued aggression in attacking the strike zone.
With the Yankees facing roster constraints, a demotion to the minor leagues for Doval to work on his command against lefties is unlikely. "The bottom line is he’s got to be part of our solution here," Boone said. "We’re up against it a little bit from an attrition standpoint."