Michael Pineda is Pitching Like an Ace

Michael Pineda (Adam Hunger/USA Today)

On Sunday afternoon New York Yankees’ right-handed pitcher Michael Pineda struck out a career-high 16 batters showing everyone once again why he is the Yankees ace, as the Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in the Bronx.

Lately, the role of  the so called “ace” of the Yankees has been discussed, but unannounced. Yankees pitchers Masahiro Tanaka and C.C. Sabathia still loom in the clubhouse, but injuries to Tanaka and old age and a decrease in velocity for Sabathia have slowed down performance.

Yankees fans have been realizing of late that Michael Pineda’s starts are becoming a very special outing. The tall righty some refer to as “Big Mike” has been nothing less than spectacular, posting a record of 5-0, while supporting an earned run average of 2.72. Pineda, who has 54 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched, is currently ranked first among all major league pitchers.

The dominant right-hander’s last start against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 5 was the longest scoreless start of his career. When he took the mound against the Orioles, Pineda led the American League with a 12.67 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. By the end of his day, he ramped that up to 18.0, by not allowing a walk over 111 pitches.

Pineda’s 16 strikeouts ties him with David Wells and David Cone for second most in a single game in franchise history behind only Ron Guidry, who had 18 against the California Angles in July of 1978.

Pineda usually throws a mid-90s fastball but has been utilizing a slider which seems to be his go to strikeout pitch.

Whatever Pineda is throwing seems to be working as the Yankees and their new proclaimed ace race towards the summer.