Doval’s damage-control problem persists for Yankees, with lefties at the center

Camilo Doval is still struggling to limit damage for the New York Yankees, even as the team’s internal belief is that the right-hander’s underlying performance points to better outcomes ahead. In a recent look at Doval’s form, Doval’s ERA was listed at 4.67, a mark that does not reflect the full story of his recent stretch because of eight unearned runs surrendered over his past three games.

That distinction matters because bullpen statistics can swing heavily based on whether trouble is converted into earned runs. The Yankees’ concern is not only whether opponents are scoring, but how quickly innings can unravel when contact and base-running combine. The reporting also points to situations where miscues, including plays that extend innings or keep rallies going, have contributed to runs that would not be counted the same way in a clean defensive sequence.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged publicly that the righty-lefty matchup is part of the problem. He leaned on Doval’s performance trends against right-handed hitters while also identifying a clear gap versus left-handed batters, stating that lefties “have hurt him” and that the club needs to make him “more efficient” in those matchups.

Doval’s own framing was more about execution and control than results. He said through an interpreter that, in his career, he has “never felt this good,” and that he believes sometimes the outcomes are not what he expects even when he executes pitches. That comes as the Yankees manage the uncomfortable reality that relief pitchers can be punished even when the process looks right, particularly when a game’s leverage moments are extended by baserunners and defensive plays.

The reporting also cited an example from a Yankees game against the Minnesota Twins in which the inning dynamics went against Doval. The account described a reach after an error by Anthony Volpe, followed by a bunt attempt that did not play as planned and ultimately resulted in an extra hit that loaded the bases. Once that leverage is created, Boone’s description of needing to improve efficiency against left-handed hitters becomes even more consequential, because the margin for error narrows when the bullpen is asked to get outs with runners in scoring position.

For Yankees fans, the immediate takeaway is that Doval’s current issue is not simply whether he is putting up a low ERA, but whether the team can prevent the bullpen from turning short rallies into multi-run frames, especially in left-handed matchups. The longer takeaway is that Boone’s comments suggest the Yankees are watching both sides of the equation, results on the scoreboard and the adjustments required to keep rallies from catching fire.