There’s been no such thing as a sophomore slump for New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
Volpe is riding a 19-game hitting streak and will look to continue to swing a hot bat when New York opens a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday.
After finishing eighth in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season, Volpe hasn’t slowed down in 2024. He most recently went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk during Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres, keeping his average at .333 (27-for-81) during his hitting streak.
Derek Jeter was the last Yankees player to record a hit in 19 straight games, doing so from Sept. 4-25, 2012.
Volpe also joined another New York legend, Joe DiMaggio, as the only players in franchise history to record a 19-game hitting streak before their 24th birthday.
“A continuing, evolving, outstanding player,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe. “Hungry, having the ability to make adjustments. He’s on a lot in front of some great, great hitters. That’s crucial, and it’s been a driving force for our offense.”
Right-hander Griffin Canning (2-4, 5.05 ERA) will try to cool Volpe off when he makes his 11th start of the season on Tuesday.
In his most recent outing, Canning took a no-decision after giving up two runs on five hits in five innings against the Houston Astros last Tuesday.
Canning has posted a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against New York, but he didn’t factor into the decision in either outing.
The Yankees will counter with southpaw Nestor Cortes (3-4, 3.29).
Cortes has won each of his past two starts, with the latest victory coming against Seattle last Wednesday. Cortes scattered three hits across five scoreless innings in the meeting with the Mariners.
In six career appearances (two starts) vs. Los Angeles, Cortes is 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA.
Like New York, the Angels had the day off on Monday, and it was a much-needed break after Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Cleveland. The Guardians swept the three-game series, outscoring Los Angeles 19-11 in the process.
Sunday’s setback completed the first half of a six-game homestand, and Angel Stadium has been anything but kind to Los Angeles. The Angels are 4-17 in their past 21 games in Anaheim.
Adding insult to injury was the fact that right fielder Jo Adell continued to struggle, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Sunday. Adell is now 1-for-21 (.048) over his past five games.
One of Adell’s strikeouts came with the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the eighth. Los Angeles was down 5-4 at the time, and Adell hopes that he can start coming through when his team needs him to.
“Approach-wise, my focus fell off a little bit towards the end of that at-bat,” Adell said. “I really wanted to stay in and keep the ball a little closer. And I ended up chasing the slider away. That’s a pitch I need to work on laying off.
“Hopefully, as we continue to move forward that’s going to be something that I can do a better job of.”
–Field Level Media